Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 62gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB bullet and 63 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>> | 84% | 49,226 psi | 89% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,195 psi | 85% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 3514 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3484 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3579 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 3510 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,443 psi | 89% | 3504 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 3465 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 3484 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3533 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3556 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,863 psi | 88% | 3589 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 3642 fps | 98% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3543 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,530 psi | 90% | 3468 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3553 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,718 psi | 86% | 3579 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3527 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,657 psi | 81% | 3442 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3547 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,461 psi | 62% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,966 psi | 90% | 3533 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,863 psi | 87% | 3540 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3527 fps | 97% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 3465 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3488 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 3445 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,675 psi | 88% | 3497 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 3458 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,456 psi | 86% | 3478 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3540 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,371 psi | 89% | 3576 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3553 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 3478 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,791 psi | 88% | 3461 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,708 psi | 63% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 3615 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,269 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,254 psi | 87% | 3468 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 3455 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,979 psi | 89% | 3527 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3488 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,675 psi | 88% | 3497 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 3527 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 3468 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,834 psi | 88% | 3422 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3415 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3497 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 3419 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 3533 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,135 psi | 80% | 3504 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3409 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,907 psi | 89% | 3419 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3510 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3455 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 3455 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3465 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 3497 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,966 psi | 90% | 3494 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3510 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,806 psi | 90% | 3540 fps | 98% |
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% | 43,134 psi | 78% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,665 psi | 65% | 3189 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,467 psi | 77% | 3369 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,692 psi | 61% | 3153 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,485 psi | 84% | 3510 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,554 psi | 77% | 3376 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,584 psi | 79% | 3373 fps | 95% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,785 psi | 76% | 3333 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,872 psi | 74% | 3360 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,176 psi | 73% | 3327 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,468 psi | 79% | 3412 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,687 psi | 83% | 3514 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 46 gr | 90% | 40,335 psi | 73% | 3406 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3333 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 79% | 3340 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,248 psi | 73% | 3333 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,208 psi | 80% | 3497 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3320 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,945 psi | 76% | 3373 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 41.7 gr | 82% | 38,566 psi | 70% | 3323 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,483 psi | 46% | 2096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,089 psi | 74% | 3330 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 71% | 3343 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,076 psi | 78% | 3360 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,597 psi | 75% | 3383 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,785 psi | 76% | 3333 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,450 psi | 70% | 3281 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,917 psi | 78% | 3314 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,579 psi | 68% | 3232 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 70% | 3255 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,914 psi | 70% | 3274 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,757 psi | 77% | 3396 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,021 psi | 83% | 3501 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,598 psi | 77% | 3402 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,249 psi | 75% | 3340 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,411 psi | 82% | 3386 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,788 psi | 47% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,745 psi | 83% | 3543 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 42.9 gr | 84% | 34,954 psi | 63% | 3264 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 77% | 3340 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,043 psi | 67% | 3196 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,972 psi | 72% | 3317 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,450 psi | 70% | 3281 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,579 psi | 68% | 3232 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,582 psi | 75% | 3386 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,162 psi | 74% | 3330 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,495 psi | 73% | 3238 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,359 psi | 60% | 3054 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 82% | 3428 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,929 psi | 72% | 3232 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,569 psi | 77% | 3346 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,060 psi | 74% | 3333 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,085 psi | 65% | 3287 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,876 psi | 83% | 3353 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,640 psi | 74% | 3245 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,955 psi | 65% | 3202 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 67% | 3199 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,724 psi | 66% | 3192 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,742 psi | 76% | 3327 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 64% | 3166 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,480 psi | 73% | 3278 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,959 psi | 74% | 3366 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,321 psi | 73% | 3323 fps | 95.5% |
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 63 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 62gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,655 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,336 fps to 3,655 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 63 of the 63 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 62.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.0 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 | 62gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB 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.