Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.8 Western with .277 | 140gr | Swift A-Frame bullet and 88 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Norma MRP, Vihtavuori N560 and Alliant Reloder-26.
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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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,565 psi | 87% | 2913 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,738 psi | 86% | 2966 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,362 psi | 87% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,682 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,030 psi | 89% | 3117 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,233 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,028 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,754 psi | 60% | 2762 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,797 psi | 87% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,971 psi | 88% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,175 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,840 psi | 86% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,769 psi | 89% | 3048 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,463 psi | 85% | 3054 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,275 psi | 87% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,530 psi | 75% | 2969 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,797 psi | 87% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,331 psi | 84% | 3031 fps | 98.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,914 psi | 89% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,463 psi | 85% | 3054 fps | 98.8% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,043 psi | 88% | 2956 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,022 psi | 74% | 2907 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,102 psi | 89% | 2986 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,869 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,317 psi | 85% | 2966 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,188 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,027 psi | 85% | 2979 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,682 psi | 90% | 2986 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,732 psi | 73% | 3015 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,101 psi | 86% | 3045 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,622 psi | 56% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,755 psi | 90% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,769 psi | 89% | 2946 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,218 psi | 90% | 2992 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,697 psi | 90% | 2986 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,928 psi | 89% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,465 psi | 90% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,319 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 7828 SSCᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,334 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,709 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,448 psi | 85% | 2927 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,855 psi | 87% | 2969 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,763 psi | 77% | 2871 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,260 psi | 87% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,666 psi | 86% | 2992 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,100 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,941 psi | 86% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,290 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grandᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 58,233 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,465 psi | 90% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnumᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,040 psi | 80% | 2979 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,521 psi | 58% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,783 psi | 89% | 2969 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,129 psi | 85% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,566 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,767 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,892 psi | 74% | 3012 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,464 psi | 88% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,059 psi | 89% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,144 psi | 86% | 2972 fps | 97.8% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,058 psi | 88% | 3035 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,043 psi | 88% | 2956 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,448 psi | 85% | 2927 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,709 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,855 psi | 87% | 2969 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,912 psi | 86% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,465 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,653 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,594 psi | 87% | 3028 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,769 psi | 89% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,030 psi | 89% | 2966 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,709 psi | 86% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,827 psi | 89% | 3009 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,030 psi | 89% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,030 psi | 89% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,506 psi | 85% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,131 psi | 89% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,101 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,304 psi | 87% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,043 psi | 88% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,639 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,187 psi | 85% | 3068 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,908 psi | 78% | 2976 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,609 psi | 89% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,869 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,431 psi | 81% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,044 psi | 89% | 3005 fps | 98.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,852 psi | 81% | 2854 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,329 psi | 50% | 2507 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,866 psi | 81% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,857 psi | 63% | 2720 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,517 psi | 78% | 2986 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,414 psi | 76% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,901 psi | 64% | 2759 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,687 psi | 70% | 2867 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,216 psi | 56% | 2697 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,270 psi | 77% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,476 psi | 82% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,494 psi | 61% | 2733 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,121 psi | 69% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,684 psi | 64% | 2753 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,653 psi | 61% | 2749 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 45% | 2480 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,937 psi | 48% | 2546 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 56.2 gr | 80% | 31,270 psi | 48% | 2595 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,756 psi | 64% | 2795 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,865 psi | 78% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,653 psi | 61% | 2749 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 68% | 2733 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,904 psi | 69% | 2844 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,126 psi | 79% | 2874 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,743 psi | 66% | 2769 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,513 psi | 70% | 2789 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,907 psi | 75% | 2874 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,950 psi | 74% | 2854 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 57% | 2618 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,117 psi | 60% | 2812 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,698 psi | 64% | 2782 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,383 psi | 42% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,953 psi | 80% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,012 psi | 83% | 2887 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,900 psi | 61% | 2657 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,774 psi | 70% | 2762 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 60% | 2671 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,882 psi | 84% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,500 psi | 73% | 2812 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,688 psi | 72% | 2900 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,315 psi | 80% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,352 psi | 67% | 2713 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,698 psi | 64% | 2697 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,707 psi | 52% | 2539 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,837 psi | 81% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,424 psi | 65% | 2746 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma MRP | 57.3 gr | 84% | 36,129 psi | 56% | 2694 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,495 psi | 62% | 2717 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,476 psi | 82% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,671 psi | 67% | 2851 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 60% | 2700 fps | 97.5% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,798 psi | 60% | 2720 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,065 psi | 43% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,807 psi | 78% | 2854 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,921 psi | 74% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 63% | 2740 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 60% | 2746 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,114 psi | 56% | 2726 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,969 psi | 83% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,993 psi | 74% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,282 psi | 71% | 2795 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,930 psi | 63% | 2736 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 68% | 2733 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,352 psi | 67% | 2713 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,315 psi | 80% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,698 psi | 64% | 2697 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,037 psi | 75% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,689 psi | 75% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 65% | 2654 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,567 psi | 62% | 2730 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,008 psi | 74% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,485 psi | 73% | 2785 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,970 psi | 57% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,463 psi | 56% | 2605 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,636 psi | 84% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,752 psi | 84% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,977 psi | 71% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,771 psi | 64% | 2710 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,479 psi | 59% | 2644 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,953 psi | 81% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,350 psi | 64% | 2713 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 50% | 2559 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 62.8 gr | 92% | 48,109 psi | 74% | 2940 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,413 psi | 73% | 2910 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,843 psi | 63% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,743 psi | 66% | 2769 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,773 psi | 40% | 2457 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,973 psi | 63% | 2703 fps | 95.4% |
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 94 powders for 6.8 Western loaded with the .277 | 140gr | Swift A-Frame. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,127 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,850 fps to 3,127 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 94 of the 94 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 53–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 140.0 gr projectile in 0.277" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-23 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. Norma MRP, Vihtavuori N560, Alliant Reloder-26 rank at the top here: for 6.8 Western with the .277 | 140gr | Swift A-Frame they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2217, Norma 217, ReloadSwiss RS 80 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.