Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 120gr | Berger Long Range Hybrid Target bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester StaBALL HD, Norma MRP 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>> | 94% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 2664 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,922 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,820 psi | 88% | 2799 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,617 psi | 90% | 2799 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 2746 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,189 psi | 69% | 2595 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 2690 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,920 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,790 psi | 86% | 2746 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,573 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,776 psi | 86% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 2733 fps | 97.9% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,743 psi | 79% | 2703 fps | 96.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,790 psi | 86% | 2746 fps | 98.2% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 2608 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,529 psi | 86% | 2723 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,240 psi | 87% | 2700 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,312 psi | 87% | 2664 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 2694 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 2828 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 2726 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,724 psi | 66% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 2641 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,327 psi | 87% | 2631 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,210 psi | 85% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 2631 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,327 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 2631 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 2674 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 2684 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2684 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 2762 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,400 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,492 psi | 68% | 1749 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 2822 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 2674 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,356 psi | 89% | 2730 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 2608 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 2631 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 2674 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,761 psi | 86% | 2582 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 2723 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,949 psi | 85% | 2608 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,138 psi | 87% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 2657 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,704 psi | 88% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 2684 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,688 psi | 86% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 2753 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 2785 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 2707 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,688 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 2697 fps | 98.3% |
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% | 30,066 psi | 54% | 2300 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 74% | 2549 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,699 psi | 77% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,108 psi | 83% | 2733 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,841 psi | 70% | 2526 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,380 psi | 77% | 2628 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,678 psi | 61% | 2480 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,204 psi | 71% | 2530 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 71% | 2552 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,614 psi | 81% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,928 psi | 70% | 2526 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,724 psi | 66% | 2523 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,935 psi | 52% | 2329 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,589 psi | 55% | 2392 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 38.6 gr | 80% | 31,082 psi | 56% | 2444 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,682 psi | 70% | 2566 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,901 psi | 74% | 2648 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,724 psi | 66% | 2523 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,121 psi | 80% | 2556 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 2608 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,366 psi | 77% | 2592 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,324 psi | 82% | 2612 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,107 psi | 82% | 2631 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,440 psi | 80% | 2621 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,796 psi | 67% | 2448 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,361 psi | 66% | 2582 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,379 psi | 75% | 2608 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,528 psi | 50% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 72% | 2490 fps | 97% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,368 psi | 82% | 2579 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,754 psi | 70% | 2497 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,164 psi | 80% | 2579 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,236 psi | 78% | 2661 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,105 psi | 78% | 2536 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,394 psi | 75% | 2520 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,430 psi | 57% | 2336 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 71% | 2513 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma MRP | 38.4 gr | 82% | 33,518 psi | 61% | 2474 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,205 psi | 73% | 2539 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,105 psi | 78% | 2671 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,812 psi | 70% | 2526 fps | 98.1% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,708 psi | 65% | 2490 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,992 psi | 51% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,393 psi | 73% | 2566 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,856 psi | 70% | 2575 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,563 psi | 64% | 2562 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,105 psi | 78% | 2566 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,072 psi | 69% | 2513 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,121 psi | 80% | 2556 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,105 psi | 78% | 2536 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,394 psi | 75% | 2520 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,974 psi | 76% | 2480 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,724 psi | 68% | 2507 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,106 psi | 80% | 2556 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,811 psi | 67% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,953 psi | 61% | 2392 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,643 psi | 83% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,640 psi | 75% | 2536 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,723 psi | 65% | 2428 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,799 psi | 74% | 2536 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,285 psi | 58% | 2402 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,367 psi | 80% | 2697 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,656 psi | 79% | 2674 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 73% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,366 psi | 77% | 2592 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 37 gr | 80% | 25,498 psi | 46% | 2316 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,681 psi | 68% | 2474 fps | 95.2% |
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 67 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 120gr | Berger Long Range Hybrid Target. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,854 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,706 fps to 2,854 fps. ADI AR 2225 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (381 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:7.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-25, Bofors RP30 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. Winchester StaBALL HD, Norma MRP, Alliant Reloder-26 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 120gr | Berger Long Range Hybrid Target 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.