Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 60gr | CutEdge ER Raptor bullet and 68 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 and Hodgdon LEVERevolution.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,356 psi | 89% | 3510 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 3504 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,630 psi | 84% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3573 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,963 psi | 85% | 3533 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,907 psi | 89% | 3570 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 3527 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3547 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,979 psi | 89% | 3652 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3589 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3593 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3540 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,951 psi | 90% | 3606 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 3622 fps | 97% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3596 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3471 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,166 psi | 85% | 3543 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,225 psi | 87% | 3635 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3560 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3570 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,356 psi | 89% | 3589 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,997 psi | 62% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,790 psi | 86% | 3533 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,370 psi | 88% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,371 psi | 89% | 3547 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 3510 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3586 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 3527 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,776 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,703 psi | 86% | 3543 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3510 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,776 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3514 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3533 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3589 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3615 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,993 psi | 87% | 3543 fps | 96.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,487 psi | 90% | 3520 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,142 psi | 62% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3524 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,647 psi | 90% | 3678 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,630 psi | 84% | 3638 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 3524 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 3510 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3583 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,703 psi | 86% | 3543 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,776 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,138 psi | 87% | 3586 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,893 psi | 90% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 3527 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 3488 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,385 psi | 89% | 3563 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 3478 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3553 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3517 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,408 psi | 75% | 3478 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,545 psi | 90% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 3484 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 3504 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3514 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,443 psi | 88% | 3510 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3527 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3491 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3481 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3573 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3530 fps | 97.1% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,712 psi | 74% | 3327 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 81% | 3435 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,779 psi | 59% | 3159 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 72% | 3350 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,966 psi | 56% | 3117 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,946 psi | 78% | 3432 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 71% | 3317 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,334 psi | 69% | 3353 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,542 psi | 82% | 3573 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,495 psi | 73% | 3376 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,364 psi | 73% | 3379 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,934 psi | 83% | 3468 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,949 psi | 85% | 3540 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 47.7 gr | 94% | 43,584 psi | 79% | 3533 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3379 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,452 psi | 75% | 3333 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 69% | 3317 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,933 psi | 81% | 3560 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,208 psi | 82% | 3488 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,267 psi | 84% | 3501 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,350 psi | 73% | 3376 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 42.5 gr | 84% | 39,030 psi | 71% | 3383 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,222 psi | 46% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 3386 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 66% | 3323 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,398 psi | 84% | 3481 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,644 psi | 84% | 3448 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,875 psi | 81% | 3510 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 71% | 3317 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 81% | 3435 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 3251 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,569 psi | 79% | 3376 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,666 psi | 68% | 3278 fps | 95% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,899 psi | 70% | 3304 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,651 psi | 66% | 3264 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,047 psi | 78% | 3451 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,250 psi | 78% | 3465 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,831 psi | 81% | 3474 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,062 psi | 78% | 3376 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,179 psi | 46% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,585 psi | 81% | 3451 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,122 psi | 83% | 3596 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 43.7 gr | 86% | 35,331 psi | 64% | 3317 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,943 psi | 72% | 3327 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,465 psi | 71% | 3307 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,943 psi | 72% | 3363 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 3251 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,666 psi | 68% | 3278 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,918 psi | 81% | 3510 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,775 psi | 85% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,469 psi | 80% | 3455 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 69% | 3225 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,198 psi | 56% | 3031 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,757 psi | 77% | 3415 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,782 psi | 68% | 3225 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,265 psi | 78% | 3406 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,944 psi | 74% | 3379 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,537 psi | 70% | 3399 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,395 psi | 79% | 3353 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 69% | 3238 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,373 psi | 60% | 3179 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,635 psi | 63% | 3179 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,608 psi | 66% | 3232 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,552 psi | 72% | 3317 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,489 psi | 61% | 3150 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,234 psi | 75% | 3333 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 69% | 3346 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,930 psi | 74% | 3383 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 92 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 60gr | CutEdge ER Raptor. ReloadSwiss RS 52 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,678 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,362 fps to 3,678 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 92 of the 92 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (381 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 60.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon LEVERevolution rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 60gr | CutEdge ER Raptor they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon H380 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.