Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 with .264 | 156gr | Norma VULKAN bullet and 53 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% | 56,231 psi | 88% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 8700ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,746 psi | 73% | 2756 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,013 psi | 86% | 2894 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,174 psi | 90% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,956 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,752 psi | 86% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,868 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,751 psi | 84% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,522 psi | 90% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,913 psi | 89% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,563 psi | 86% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,984 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,027 psi | 86% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,768 psi | 89% | 2979 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-50ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,521 psi | 89% | 2969 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,159 psi | 88% | 2854 fps | 99.1% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,666 psi | 87% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,810 psi | 86% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,086 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,723 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,551 psi | 90% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,288 psi | 85% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,000 psi | 60% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,013 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,505 psi | 85% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,203 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,418 psi | 85% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,128 psi | 85% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,521 psi | 89% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,506 psi | 87% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,867 psi | 84% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,870 psi | 61% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,056 psi | 85% | 2913 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,609 psi | 90% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,695 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,994 psi | 77% | 2769 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,303 psi | 87% | 2779 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,898 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,840 psi | 89% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,101 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,550 psi | 89% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,912 psi | 88% | 2904 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,869 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,578 psi | 86% | 2917 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,072 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,969 psi | 86% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,666 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% | 46,093 psi | 72% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 8700 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,439 psi | 68% | 2690 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,979 psi | 75% | 2772 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,212 psi | 79% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 71% | 2713 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,968 psi | 53% | 2467 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2218 | 68.8 gr | 90% | 41,104 psi | 64% | 2717 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,212 psi | 49% | 2441 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,488 psi | 79% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,009 psi | 78% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,137 psi | 72% | 2713 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,875 psi | 70% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 61% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,213 psi | 80% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,160 psi | 61% | 2644 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,119 psi | 66% | 2703 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,323 psi | 68% | 2625 fps | 96.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,091 psi | 68% | 2654 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 57% | 2543 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,137 psi | 72% | 2713 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,782 psi | 58% | 2536 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,892 psi | 75% | 2707 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,021 psi | 74% | 2694 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,041 psi | 85% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 57.7 gr | 80% | 38,261 psi | 60% | 2654 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 45% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,631 psi | 76% | 2690 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 69% | 2697 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,227 psi | 79% | 2694 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,777 psi | 48% | 2418 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,900 psi | 63% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 46% | 2385 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,211 psi | 77% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,657 psi | 70% | 2717 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,205 psi | 63% | 2592 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 46% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 61.7 gr | 80% | 37,449 psi | 59% | 2628 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 54% | 2520 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,778 psi | 80% | 2730 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,617 psi | 78% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,844 psi | 67% | 2654 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,269 psi | 77% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,634 psi | 81% | 2720 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,009 psi | 78% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 69% | 2602 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,905 psi | 72% | 2667 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,792 psi | 78% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,747 psi | 76% | 2785 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,611 psi | 64% | 2612 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,723 psi | 56% | 2543 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,148 psi | 66% | 2723 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 69% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,253 psi | 72% | 2654 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 53 powders for 6.5 x 68 loaded with the .264 | 156gr | Norma VULKAN. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,002 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,795 fps to 3,002 fps. Accurate 8700 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 53 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 60–90 %, 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 VULKAN 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.