Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6.8 Western with .277 | 180gr | Barnes RNSP bullet and 76 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Winchester StaBALL HD.
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>> | 92% | 55,492 psi | 85% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,753 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,985 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,885 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,305 psi | 88% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,013 psi | 85% | 2723 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,968 psi | 81% | 2697 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,587 psi | 73% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,450 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,595 psi | 89% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,595 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,753 psi | 87% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,274 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,898 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,188 psi | 86% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,255 psi | 76% | 2710 fps | 96.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,217 psi | 86% | 2690 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,160 psi | 89% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,796 psi | 86% | 2762 fps | 99.8% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,274 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,508 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 58,349 psi | 90% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,218 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,014 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,624 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,450 psi | 88% | 2703 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,827 psi | 89% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,114 psi | 85% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,755 psi | 90% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,463 psi | 58% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,507 psi | 87% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,376 psi | 87% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,942 psi | 88% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,782 psi | 86% | 2648 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,840 psi | 87% | 2759 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,004 psi | 66% | 2575 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,072 psi | 88% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,755 psi | 90% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,623 psi | 87% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,624 psi | 89% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,265 psi | 67% | 2602 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,187 psi | 85% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,392 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,059 psi | 89% | 2785 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,246 psi | 88% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,970 psi | 86% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,319 psi | 59% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,521 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,042 psi | 85% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,579 psi | 86% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,563 psi | 84% | 2785 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,305 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,507 psi | 87% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,508 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,072 psi | 88% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,755 psi | 90% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,173 psi | 86% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,086 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,043 psi | 86% | 2631 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,579 psi | 86% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,782 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,087 psi | 88% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,724 psi | 87% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,536 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,100 psi | 85% | 2667 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,651 psi | 86% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,492 psi | 85% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,668 psi | 90% | 2795 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,682 psi | 90% | 2779 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,521 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N570ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,562 psi | 81% | 2782 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,014 psi | 86% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,218 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,042 psi | 85% | 2769 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,594 psi | 87% | 2664 fps | 99.9% |
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,217 psi | 57% | 2336 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,530 psi | 76% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,335 psi | 62% | 2493 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 58% | 2438 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,147 psi | 63% | 2451 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 57% | 2392 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,578 psi | 55% | 2365 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,398 psi | 44% | 2228 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 64% | 2451 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,500 psi | 73% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,781 psi | 84% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,220 psi | 63% | 2444 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,173 psi | 57% | 2402 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,897 psi | 55% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,009 psi | 48% | 2287 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 61% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,774 psi | 70% | 2648 fps | 95.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,876 psi | 72% | 2533 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,505 psi | 53% | 2339 fps | 96.3% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,795 psi | 54% | 2379 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,173 psi | 57% | 2402 fps | 97.4% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,692 psi | 80% | 2556 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,982 psi | 52% | 2329 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,894 psi | 78% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,476 psi | 82% | 2615 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,233 psi | 60% | 2395 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,638 psi | 59% | 2382 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 69% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 51.5 gr | 80% | 30,342 psi | 47% | 2306 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,923 psi | 78% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,152 psi | 43% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,920 psi | 72% | 2493 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,939 psi | 81% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,036 psi | 72% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 63% | 2392 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,447 psi | 55% | 2369 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,418 psi | 54% | 2415 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,531 psi | 78% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,805 psi | 75% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,111 psi | 49% | 2224 fps | 98% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,311 psi | 73% | 2539 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,153 psi | 45% | 2277 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,885 psi | 60% | 2461 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,254 psi | 74% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 54% | 2375 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,224 psi | 73% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,183 psi | 48% | 2267 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 44% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,588 psi | 76% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,514 psi | 73% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 55.1 gr | 80% | 29,240 psi | 45% | 2280 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,623 psi | 58% | 2477 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,482 psi | 65% | 2431 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 63% | 2434 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,692 psi | 80% | 2556 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,531 psi | 78% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,805 psi | 75% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,371 psi | 76% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,321 psi | 62% | 2431 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,033 psi | 66% | 2418 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,556 psi | 70% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,234 psi | 63% | 2418 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,519 psi | 82% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,748 psi | 77% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,781 psi | 55% | 2303 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,416 psi | 79% | 2612 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,023 psi | 75% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,161 psi | 62% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 60% | 2454 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,724 psi | 56% | 2395 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,003 psi | 65% | 2552 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,066 psi | 75% | 2720 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,791 psi | 75% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,140 psi | 79% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 52.9 gr | 80% | 32,343 psi | 50% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,710 psi | 58% | 2352 fps | 97.4% |
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 76 powders for 6.8 Western loaded with the .277 | 180gr | Barnes RNSP. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,828 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,644 fps to 2,828 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 76 of the 76 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 180.0 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-33 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, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 6.8 Western with the .277 | 180gr | Barnes RNSP 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.