Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.8 Western with .277 | 156gr | Sako Hammerhead bullet and 80 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N560, Accurate MAGPRO and Ramshot Grand.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,114 psi | 85% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,825 psi | 86% | 2943 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,260 psi | 87% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,811 psi | 86% | 2881 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,188 psi | 88% | 2943 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,790 psi | 74% | 2779 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,612 psi | 66% | 2740 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,595 psi | 89% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,927 psi | 86% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,884 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,259 psi | 85% | 2871 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,072 psi | 88% | 2940 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,044 psi | 89% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 83% | 2913 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,694 psi | 84% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,390 psi | 85% | 2844 fps | 96% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,898 psi | 86% | 2920 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,610 psi | 90% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,647 psi | 76% | 2851 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,072 psi | 88% | 2940 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 2825 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,591 psi | 81% | 2864 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,668 psi | 90% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,637 psi | 87% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,927 psi | 86% | 2838 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,246 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,086 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,231 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,649 psi | 81% | 2979 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,305 psi | 88% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,028 psi | 57% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,593 psi | 86% | 2815 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,477 psi | 85% | 2799 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,347 psi | 85% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,291 psi | 90% | 2864 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,940 psi | 85% | 2920 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,941 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,537 psi | 89% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,665 psi | 84% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,318 psi | 87% | 2867 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,043 psi | 59% | 2664 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,985 psi | 88% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,898 psi | 88% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,593 psi | 86% | 2940 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnumᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,841 psi | 89% | 2933 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,782 psi | 58% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,291 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,637 psi | 87% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,711 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,971 psi | 88% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,142 psi | 82% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,863 psi | 74% | 2854 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,361 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,913 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,349 psi | 90% | 2913 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 2825 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,941 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,537 psi | 89% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,739 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,798 psi | 90% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,361 psi | 85% | 2749 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,885 psi | 89% | 2907 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,581 psi | 90% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,668 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,508 psi | 88% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,129 psi | 85% | 2831 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,275 psi | 87% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,390 psi | 85% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,407 psi | 90% | 2864 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,986 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,826 psi | 87% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,855 psi | 87% | 2956 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,376 psi | 87% | 2933 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,255 psi | 76% | 2861 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,421 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,898 psi | 88% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,637 psi | 86% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,114 psi | 85% | 2828 fps | 99.3% |
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,330 psi | 51% | 2411 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,759 psi | 69% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | 61.1 gr | 88% | 45,136 psi | 69% | 2753 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,823 psi | 81% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,536 psi | 58% | 2536 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,872 psi | 63% | 2641 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,814 psi | 64% | 2657 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,909 psi | 51% | 2500 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,085 psi | 83% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,033 psi | 66% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,559 psi | 76% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,376 psi | 58% | 2533 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,549 psi | 55% | 2530 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,053 psi | 49% | 2444 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,050 psi | 43% | 2349 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,940 psi | 54% | 2575 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,040 psi | 80% | 2785 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,927 psi | 58% | 2582 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,998 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,898 psi | 58% | 2615 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,549 psi | 55% | 2530 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,747 psi | 73% | 2667 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,637 psi | 58% | 2566 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,042 psi | 85% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,470 psi | 71% | 2710 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,066 psi | 75% | 2723 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,540 psi | 67% | 2648 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,859 psi | 66% | 2635 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 62% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,447 psi | 55% | 2602 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,832 psi | 71% | 2733 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,731 psi | 43% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 67% | 2602 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,979 psi | 75% | 2690 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,699 psi | 66% | 2612 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,641 psi | 66% | 2592 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,872 psi | 64% | 2677 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,630 psi | 72% | 2644 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,976 psi | 69% | 2635 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,819 psi | 44% | 2293 fps | 95% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,960 psi | 66% | 2631 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,330 psi | 51% | 2543 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,737 psi | 53% | 2536 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 68% | 2651 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Grand | 58.1 gr | 86% | 38,783 psi | 60% | 2621 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,757 psi | 66% | 2644 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,635 psi | 53% | 2503 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,268 psi | 43% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,520 psi | 84% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,605 psi | 81% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,614 psi | 69% | 2680 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,033 psi | 66% | 2700 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,198 psi | 50% | 2510 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,440 psi | 68% | 2785 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,909 psi | 80% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,466 psi | 64% | 2575 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,651 psi | 56% | 2516 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,747 psi | 73% | 2667 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,630 psi | 72% | 2644 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,976 psi | 69% | 2635 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,011 psi | 82% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,967 psi | 80% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,687 psi | 70% | 2592 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 56% | 2510 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,634 psi | 79% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,090 psi | 65% | 2562 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 63% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 57% | 2503 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,516 psi | 76% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,368 psi | 70% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,621 psi | 53% | 2434 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,904 psi | 69% | 2651 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,955 psi | 55% | 2516 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 58.6 gr | 86% | 43,062 psi | 66% | 2710 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,917 psi | 66% | 2694 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,832 psi | 71% | 2799 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,396 psi | 68% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,717 psi | 72% | 2717 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,369 psi | 44% | 2448 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,492 psi | 56% | 2484 fps | 95.3% |
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 85 powders for 6.8 Western loaded with the .277 | 156gr | Sako Hammerhead. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,989 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,762 fps to 2,989 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 85 of the 85 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 156.0 gr projectile in 0.277" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-25 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. Vihtavuori N560, Accurate MAGPRO, Ramshot Grand rank at the top here: for 6.8 Western with the .277 | 156gr | Sako Hammerhead they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Reloder-33, IMR 7977 Enduron, IMR 8133 Enduron 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.