Load data for 6.5 x 68 + .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp

6.5 x 68 cartridge drawing
Sierra logo

Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Sierra
Bullet Weight:160 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.264"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):2.657"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:86 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle Magnum (LRM)
Barrel Length:25.6"
Max. allowed Pressure:63,817 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:11.0

Load data in caliber 6.5 x 68 with .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp bullet and 53 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2218, Vihtavuori N570 and Alliant Reloder-33.

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"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 3100<<locked>>86%57,624 psi90%2769 fps100%
Accurate 8700ᴾ<<locked>>100%48,588 psi76%2759 fps97.6%
Accurate High Country<<locked>>82%55,854 psi88%2877 fps100%
Accurate MAGPRO<<locked>>84%56,739 psi89%2890 fps99.9%
ADI AR 2209<<locked>>82%54,911 psi86%2802 fps100%
ADI AR 2213<<locked>>86%57,392 psi90%2881 fps100%
ADI AR 2217<<locked>>94%56,565 psi89%2867 fps100%
ADI AR 2218<<locked>>98%56,681 psi89%3002 fps99.6%
ADI AR 2225<<locked>>96%55,680 psi87%2887 fps100%
Alliant Power Pro Varmint<<locked>>82%55,071 psi86%2799 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-19<<locked>>82%54,534 psi85%2792 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-22<<locked>>84%54,114 psi85%2815 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-23<<locked>>86%56,275 psi88%2776 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-25<<locked>>90%56,840 psi89%2854 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-26<<locked>>82%56,913 psi89%2864 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-33<<locked>>94%54,708 psi86%2910 fps99.1%
Alliant Reloder-50<<locked>>98%54,549 psi85%2907 fps98.7%
Baschieri & Pellagri 109<<locked>>88%57,377 psi90%2844 fps99.4%
Bofors RP15<<locked>>88%57,348 psi90%2864 fps100%
Bofors RP30<<locked>>92%56,579 psi89%2881 fps100%
Bofors RP5<<locked>>84%54,114 psi85%2815 fps100%
Hodgdon H1000<<locked>>90%53,896 psi84%2825 fps100%
Hodgdon H4831<<locked>>84%56,028 psi88%2808 fps100%
Hodgdon H4831 SC<<locked>>84%55,027 psi86%2795 fps99.9%
Hodgdon Retumbo<<locked>>90%56,304 psi88%2949 fps100%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%37,927 psi59%1775 fps100%
IMR 4955 Enduron<<locked>>84%56,173 psi88%2785 fps100%
IMR 7828 SSC<<locked>>86%55,999 psi88%2867 fps100%
IMR 7977 Enduron<<locked>>90%54,839 psi86%2746 fps96.5%
IMR 8133 Enduron<<locked>>98%54,882 psi86%2874 fps100%
Lovex S071<<locked>>90%56,072 psi88%2749 fps100%
Norma 217<<locked>>98%56,115 psi88%2894 fps100%
Norma MRP<<locked>>82%54,230 psi85%2831 fps100%
Ramshot Grand<<locked>>86%57,406 psi90%2890 fps100%
Ramshot Magnum<<locked>>88%55,680 psi87%2818 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%39,015 psi61%1818 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 76<<locked>>90%56,971 psi89%2936 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 80<<locked>>92%55,941 psi88%2910 fps100%
Rottweil R 904<<locked>>82%55,332 psi87%2772 fps100%
Rottweil R 905<<locked>>82%54,491 psi85%2785 fps100%
SNPE Vectan SP 13ᴾ<<locked>>100%50,633 psi79%2769 fps97.6%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000<<locked>>84%57,740 psi90%2838 fps100%
Somchem S361<<locked>>82%56,507 psi89%2769 fps100%
Somchem S385<<locked>>82%54,766 psi86%2756 fps100%
Vihtavuori N165<<locked>>86%54,665 psi86%2746 fps100%
Vihtavuori N170<<locked>>92%57,377 psi90%2838 fps98.3%
Vihtavuori N555<<locked>>82%54,491 psi85%2753 fps100%
Vihtavuori N560<<locked>>84%57,363 psi90%2897 fps100%
Vihtavuori N565<<locked>>88%54,853 psi86%2838 fps100%
Vihtavuori N568<<locked>>92%56,420 psi88%2913 fps99.9%
Vihtavuori N570<<locked>>92%53,809 psi84%2913 fps98.7%
Winchester StaBALL HD<<locked>>86%56,782 psi89%2867 fps100%
Winchester Supreme 780<<locked>>84%54,462 psi85%2756 fps100%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 3100<<locked>>80%47,384 psi74%2621 fps100%
Accurate 8700<<locked>>96%42,090 psi66%2638 fps95.8%
Accurate High Country<<locked>>80%52,141 psi82%2818 fps100%
Accurate MAGPRO<<locked>>80%49,313 psi77%2766 fps99.4%
ADI AR 2209<<locked>>80%51,488 psi81%2749 fps100%
ADI AR 2213<<locked>>80%46,659 psi73%2703 fps99.6%
ADI AR 2217<<locked>>80%34,983 psi55%2467 fps97.6%
ADI AR 221867.7 gr88%39,421 psi62%2651 fps95.3%
ADI AR 2225<<locked>>80%32,227 psi51%2444 fps99.2%
Alliant Power Pro Varmint<<locked>>80%51,721 psi81%2746 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-19<<locked>>80%51,242 psi80%2740 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-22<<locked>>80%47,427 psi74%2707 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-23<<locked>>80%46,180 psi72%2628 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-25<<locked>>80%40,466 psi63%2592 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-26<<locked>>80%52,808 psi83%2805 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-3367.4 gr86%40,683 psi64%2648 fps95.9%
Alliant Reloder-50<<locked>>90%40,596 psi64%2644 fps95.3%
Baschieri & Pellagri 109<<locked>>80%44,324 psi69%2618 fps97.2%
Bofors RP15<<locked>>80%44,309 psi69%2648 fps99.8%
Bofors RP30<<locked>>80%37,782 psi59%2543 fps98.4%
Bofors RP5<<locked>>80%47,427 psi74%2707 fps100%
Hodgdon H1000<<locked>>80%38,072 psi60%2539 fps98.9%
Hodgdon H4831<<locked>>80%49,081 psi77%2700 fps99.5%
Hodgdon H4831 SC<<locked>>80%48,211 psi76%2684 fps99.4%
Hodgdon Retumbo<<locked>>80%39,523 psi62%2651 fps99.8%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%28,631 psi45%1588 fps100%
IMR 4955 Enduron<<locked>>80%49,748 psi78%2680 fps99.6%
IMR 7828 SSC<<locked>>80%45,455 psi71%2690 fps99.5%
IMR 7977 Enduron<<locked>>88%51,532 psi81%2690 fps95.7%
IMR 8133 Enduron<<locked>>80%29,776 psi47%2362 fps95.2%
Lovex S071<<locked>>80%40,872 psi64%2503 fps100%
Norma 217<<locked>>80%30,139 psi47%2388 fps97.8%
Norma MRP<<locked>>80%50,604 psi79%2772 fps100%
Ramshot Grand<<locked>>80%46,064 psi72%2710 fps99.7%
Ramshot Magnum<<locked>>80%41,495 psi65%2589 fps99.9%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%29,298 psi46%1624 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 76<<locked>>80%38,928 psi61%2631 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 80<<locked>>80%35,766 psi56%2526 fps96.4%
Rottweil R 904<<locked>>80%51,967 psi81%2720 fps99.9%
Rottweil R 905<<locked>>80%51,126 psi80%2733 fps100%
SNPE Vectan SP 13<<locked>>94%41,365 psi65%2595 fps95.1%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000<<locked>>80%50,821 psi80%2730 fps100%
Somchem S361<<locked>>80%53,011 psi83%2713 fps99.8%
Somchem S385<<locked>>80%51,271 psi80%2703 fps100%
Vihtavuori N165<<locked>>80%45,034 psi71%2592 fps100%
Vihtavuori N170<<locked>>84%44,034 psi69%2605 fps95.3%
Vihtavuori N555<<locked>>80%51,155 psi80%2703 fps100%
Vihtavuori N560<<locked>>80%50,082 psi78%2779 fps99.7%
Vihtavuori N565<<locked>>80%42,018 psi66%2608 fps98.7%
Vihtavuori N568<<locked>>80%36,927 psi58%2543 fps96.2%
Vihtavuori N57063.3 gr84%40,553 psi64%2657 fps95.4%
Winchester StaBALL HD<<locked>>80%45,672 psi72%2707 fps100%
Winchester Supreme 780<<locked>>80%47,427 psi74%2644 fps100%

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.

<<locked>> you need an access license to unlock this data.

This overview compares 53 powders for 6.5 x 68 loaded with the .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,002 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,775 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 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 160.0 gr projectile in 0.264" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 8700, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. ADI AR 2218, Vihtavuori N570, Alliant Reloder-33 rank at the top here: for 6.5 x 68 with the .264 | 160gr | Sierra SP SemiSp 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.

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