Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 with .264 | 120gr | Impala RNFP KO bullet and 65 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Norma MRP.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,869 psi | 89% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,261 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,667 psi | 90% | 3281 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,955 psi | 86% | 3219 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,159 psi | 90% | 3205 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,230 psi | 87% | 3215 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,261 psi | 90% | 3238 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,083 psi | 82% | 3205 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,609 psi | 90% | 3205 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,319 psi | 90% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,971 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3215 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,551 psi | 90% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,246 psi | 90% | 3255 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,476 psi | 85% | 3222 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,882 psi | 86% | 3268 fps | 96.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,101 psi | 88% | 3159 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,172 psi | 86% | 3199 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,319 psi | 90% | 3261 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3215 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,158 psi | 86% | 3205 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,056 psi | 86% | 3146 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,566 psi | 90% | 3189 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,404 psi | 85% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,941 psi | 88% | 3333 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,753 psi | 59% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,261 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,608 psi | 87% | 3123 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,174 psi | 90% | 3258 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,892 psi | 75% | 3117 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,188 psi | 90% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,550 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,609 psi | 90% | 3186 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,573 psi | 76% | 3146 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,941 psi | 88% | 3238 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,114 psi | 86% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,505 psi | 85% | 3219 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,537 psi | 90% | 3189 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,985 psi | 89% | 3205 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,580 psi | 60% | 2070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,130 psi | 90% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,998 psi | 86% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,942 psi | 89% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3284 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,723 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,782 psi | 89% | 3189 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,188 psi | 90% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,550 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,159 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,362 psi | 88% | 3186 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,260 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,566 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,826 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,912 psi | 88% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,419 psi | 87% | 3228 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3222 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,058 psi | 89% | 3281 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,680 psi | 87% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,608 psi | 89% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,014 psi | 89% | 3150 fps | 99.7% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,481 psi | 65% | 2848 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,824 psi | 84% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,251 psi | 69% | 3022 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,918 psi | 70% | 3022 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,280 psi | 69% | 2963 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,871 psi | 62% | 2890 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,044 psi | 61% | 2864 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,734 psi | 50% | 2713 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,773 psi | 70% | 2963 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,575 psi | 79% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,411 psi | 70% | 2956 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,567 psi | 64% | 2907 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,508 psi | 62% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 54% | 2782 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,918 psi | 69% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,300 psi | 80% | 3199 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 78% | 3038 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 60% | 2844 fps | 96.1% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,827 psi | 61% | 2890 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,567 psi | 64% | 2907 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,318 psi | 58% | 2822 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,424 psi | 66% | 2897 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 65% | 2877 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,008 psi | 75% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 59.4 gr | 82% | 35,868 psi | 56% | 2874 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,340 psi | 44% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,951 psi | 78% | 3012 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,546 psi | 79% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 69% | 2890 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,307 psi | 65% | 2936 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,624 psi | 62% | 2930 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,911 psi | 84% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,373 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 57% | 2723 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,531 psi | 79% | 3064 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,112 psi | 52% | 2779 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma MRP | 60.1 gr | 80% | 42,786 psi | 67% | 2982 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,822 psi | 81% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 60% | 2881 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,633 psi | 79% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,969 psi | 55% | 2762 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,124 psi | 46% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,592 psi | 84% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,401 psi | 81% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 62 gr | 80% | 32,909 psi | 52% | 2779 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,424 psi | 66% | 3009 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,440 psi | 71% | 2936 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,164 psi | 69% | 2949 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,911 psi | 84% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,373 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,634 psi | 82% | 2999 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,816 psi | 69% | 2946 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,528 psi | 73% | 2923 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,443 psi | 77% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,773 psi | 70% | 2927 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,127 psi | 83% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 61% | 2792 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,721 psi | 83% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,266 psi | 69% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 67% | 2969 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,901 psi | 64% | 2910 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,557 psi | 73% | 3084 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,243 psi | 82% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,506 psi | 57% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,046 psi | 64% | 2844 fps | 97.1% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 65 powders for 6.5 x 68 loaded with the .264 | 120gr | Impala RNFP KO. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,333 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,024 fps to 3,333 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 65 of the 65 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-33 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Norma MRP rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 with the .264 | 120gr | Impala RNFP KO they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.