Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 with .264 | 156gr | Norma ORYX bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ADI AR 2218 and ReloadSwiss RS 76.
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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,130 psi | 88% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 8700ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,659 psi | 73% | 2753 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,230 psi | 85% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,926 psi | 86% | 2894 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,072 psi | 89% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,854 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,665 psi | 86% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,421 psi | 90% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,826 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,347 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,462 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,926 psi | 86% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,652 psi | 89% | 2976 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-50ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,478 psi | 89% | 2969 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,840 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 99.1% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,564 psi | 87% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,723 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,347 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,999 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,636 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,464 psi | 90% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,508 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,186 psi | 85% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,855 psi | 59% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,926 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,404 psi | 85% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,130 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,579 psi | 89% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,375 psi | 85% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,056 psi | 85% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,434 psi | 88% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,419 psi | 87% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,751 psi | 84% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,957 psi | 61% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,766 psi | 86% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,940 psi | 85% | 2913 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,508 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,594 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,921 psi | 77% | 2769 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,217 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,230 psi | 87% | 2776 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,811 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,753 psi | 89% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,753 psi | 87% | 2841 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,434 psi | 88% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,825 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,782 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,520 psi | 85% | 2913 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,680 psi | 87% | 2976 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,579 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 100% |
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% | 46,035 psi | 72% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 8700 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,395 psi | 68% | 2690 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,647 psi | 79% | 2825 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,892 psi | 75% | 2772 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,111 psi | 79% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 71% | 2710 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,895 psi | 53% | 2467 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2218 | 68.7 gr | 90% | 41,031 psi | 64% | 2717 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,140 psi | 49% | 2438 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,386 psi | 79% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,908 psi | 78% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,035 psi | 72% | 2713 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,802 psi | 70% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,088 psi | 61% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,155 psi | 80% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,192 psi | 66% | 2713 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,018 psi | 66% | 2703 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 68% | 2625 fps | 96.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,989 psi | 67% | 2654 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,506 psi | 57% | 2539 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,035 psi | 72% | 2713 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 58% | 2539 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,790 psi | 75% | 2707 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,920 psi | 74% | 2690 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,911 psi | 84% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 57.6 gr | 80% | 38,159 psi | 60% | 2651 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,500 psi | 45% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,559 psi | 76% | 2690 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 69% | 2694 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,664 psi | 84% | 2749 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,705 psi | 48% | 2415 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,798 psi | 62% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,979 psi | 45% | 2385 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,095 psi | 77% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,556 psi | 70% | 2713 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 63% | 2592 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,341 psi | 46% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 61.6 gr | 80% | 37,362 psi | 59% | 2628 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 54% | 2520 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,720 psi | 79% | 2730 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,763 psi | 78% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,554 psi | 67% | 2648 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,414 psi | 77% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,561 psi | 81% | 2720 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,908 psi | 78% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 69% | 2598 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,847 psi | 72% | 2667 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,690 psi | 78% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,646 psi | 76% | 2782 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 63% | 2608 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,636 psi | 56% | 2539 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,076 psi | 66% | 2720 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,961 psi | 69% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,151 psi | 72% | 2651 fps | 99.8% |
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 54 powders for 6.5 x 68 loaded with the .264 | 156gr | Norma ORYX. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,999 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,791 fps to 2,999 fps. Accurate 8700 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 54 of the 54 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 156.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 8700, Alliant Reloder-50, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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, ADI AR 2218, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 with the .264 | 156gr | Norma ORYX 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.