Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.8 Western with .277 | 170gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet and 82 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Ramshot Grand, 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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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,782 psi | 87% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,320 psi | 90% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,015 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,245 psi | 85% | 2808 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,927 psi | 86% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,158 psi | 85% | 2743 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,594 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,239 psi | 73% | 2651 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,003 psi | 65% | 2615 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,361 psi | 85% | 2740 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,392 psi | 88% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,390 psi | 85% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,681 psi | 87% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,508 psi | 90% | 2789 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,391 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,551 psi | 89% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,156 psi | 82% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,030 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,392 psi | 90% | 2766 fps | 97.1% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,274 psi | 85% | 2782 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,349 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,081 psi | 76% | 2720 fps | 98.6% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,391 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 99.8% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,116 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,170 psi | 80% | 2733 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,523 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,449 psi | 87% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,390 psi | 85% | 2700 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,782 psi | 87% | 2749 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,579 psi | 86% | 2730 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,912 psi | 86% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,909 psi | 80% | 2841 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,753 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,159 psi | 57% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,566 psi | 90% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,740 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,653 psi | 90% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,899 psi | 89% | 2730 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,044 psi | 89% | 2838 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,854 psi | 86% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,998 psi | 83% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,173 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,710 psi | 58% | 2546 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,159 psi | 86% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,550 psi | 87% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,969 psi | 85% | 2802 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,564 psi | 85% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnumᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,276 psi | 88% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,985 psi | 58% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,088 psi | 89% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,101 psi | 86% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,392 psi | 90% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,536 psi | 87% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,344 psi | 81% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,398 psi | 73% | 2730 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,494 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,753 psi | 87% | 2720 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,856 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,116 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,854 psi | 86% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,420 psi | 87% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,436 psi | 90% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,508 psi | 90% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,392 psi | 88% | 2772 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,247 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,218 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,869 psi | 87% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,465 psi | 90% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,537 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,885 psi | 89% | 2730 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,725 psi | 89% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,173 psi | 86% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,043 psi | 86% | 2815 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,825 psi | 86% | 2799 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,733 psi | 75% | 2736 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,102 psi | 89% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,449 psi | 87% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,752 psi | 84% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,450 psi | 90% | 2746 fps | 99.8% |
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% | 33,286 psi | 51% | 2306 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,730 psi | 69% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,334 psi | 59% | 2510 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,698 psi | 64% | 2569 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,547 psi | 81% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 57% | 2421 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,611 psi | 62% | 2523 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,827 psi | 60% | 2480 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,618 psi | 47% | 2333 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,695 psi | 58% | 2425 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,911 psi | 83% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,786 psi | 66% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,110 psi | 76% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,347 psi | 57% | 2421 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,360 psi | 54% | 2415 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,879 psi | 49% | 2333 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 43% | 2244 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 52.2 gr | 80% | 34,577 psi | 53% | 2457 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,779 psi | 80% | 2661 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,099 psi | 54% | 2408 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,752 psi | 84% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,420 psi | 58% | 2497 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,360 psi | 54% | 2415 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,601 psi | 73% | 2543 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,304 psi | 57% | 2451 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,679 psi | 84% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,180 psi | 71% | 2582 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,907 psi | 75% | 2595 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,538 psi | 62% | 2470 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,583 psi | 66% | 2510 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 62% | 2434 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,982 psi | 51% | 2428 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,455 psi | 70% | 2605 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,833 psi | 43% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,975 psi | 66% | 2477 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,863 psi | 75% | 2562 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,395 psi | 65% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,740 psi | 61% | 2418 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,870 psi | 60% | 2497 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 71% | 2516 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,686 psi | 69% | 2507 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,645 psi | 44% | 2192 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,714 psi | 66% | 2510 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,024 psi | 48% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,563 psi | 53% | 2425 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 67% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | 54 gr | 86% | 38,508 psi | 59% | 2503 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 65% | 2523 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,952 psi | 49% | 2333 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 44% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,360 psi | 84% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,156 psi | 80% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,469 psi | 68% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,569 psi | 65% | 2572 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,010 psi | 49% | 2405 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,785 psi | 63% | 2602 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,517 psi | 79% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,711 psi | 60% | 2405 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,564 psi | 56% | 2405 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,601 psi | 73% | 2543 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 71% | 2516 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,686 psi | 69% | 2507 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,721 psi | 81% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,735 psi | 80% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,469 psi | 70% | 2470 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 56% | 2398 fps | 96.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,416 psi | 79% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,843 psi | 64% | 2444 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,727 psi | 63% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,159 psi | 57% | 2388 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,153 psi | 76% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,339 psi | 70% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,184 psi | 50% | 2274 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,556 psi | 69% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 55% | 2402 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 53.2 gr | 84% | 39,871 psi | 61% | 2530 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,740 psi | 61% | 2516 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,382 psi | 70% | 2674 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,266 psi | 68% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 71% | 2585 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,181 psi | 43% | 2346 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 52% | 2316 fps | 95% |
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 82 powders for 6.8 Western loaded with the .277 | 170gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting. Accurate High Country delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,858 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,667 fps to 2,858 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 82 of the 82 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 170.0 gr projectile in 0.277" calls for a 1:9.0 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. Ramshot Grand, Vihtavuori N560, Alliant Reloder-26 rank at the top here: for 6.8 Western with the .277 | 170gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting 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.