Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 70gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60 and Alliant Reloder-17.
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>> | 82% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3287 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3287 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3356 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,166 psi | 85% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3379 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,327 psi | 87% | 3363 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 3366 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3314 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,456 psi | 86% | 3320 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,688 psi | 86% | 3461 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3386 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,908 psi | 90% | 3409 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 3458 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,528 psi | 84% | 3428 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,993 psi | 87% | 3356 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,385 psi | 89% | 3396 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 3310 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,922 psi | 90% | 3399 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 3337 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,820 psi | 88% | 3379 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3386 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3406 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,751 psi | 63% | 2218 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3323 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,254 psi | 87% | 3383 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3346 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,240 psi | 87% | 3383 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3379 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3314 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,674 psi | 86% | 3340 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3294 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3346 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3307 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 3320 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 3392 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3376 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 3412 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3337 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,317 psi | 64% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,922 psi | 90% | 3474 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3402 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 3307 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,703 psi | 86% | 3307 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 3386 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,674 psi | 86% | 3340 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3346 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 3389 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 3343 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,137 psi | 85% | 3323 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,863 psi | 88% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 3264 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3258 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,892 psi | 88% | 3343 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 3327 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 3445 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 3261 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3307 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3383 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 3317 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3343 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3379 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,528 psi | 84% | 3291 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 3360 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,789 psi | 85% | 3327 fps | 98.4% |
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% | 45,687 psi | 83% | 3225 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,145 psi | 69% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 83% | 3291 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,042 psi | 65% | 3074 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,671 psi | 79% | 3307 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,235 psi | 76% | 3225 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,973 psi | 74% | 3169 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,338 psi | 80% | 3248 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,382 psi | 80% | 3261 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,553 psi | 75% | 3310 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,317 psi | 64% | 3054 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,698 psi | 74% | 3199 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,178 psi | 78% | 3320 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 44.3 gr | 86% | 37,855 psi | 69% | 3209 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 75% | 3215 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,838 psi | 63% | 3051 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,456 psi | 84% | 3255 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 78% | 3261 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,193 psi | 80% | 3264 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 77% | 3241 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,173 psi | 67% | 3123 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,798 psi | 70% | 3189 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,715 psi | 47% | 1988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,075 psi | 74% | 3182 fps | 97% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,003 psi | 76% | 3255 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,147 psi | 73% | 3146 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,858 psi | 76% | 3241 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,870 psi | 70% | 3169 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,338 psi | 80% | 3248 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,133 psi | 74% | 3199 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,670 psi | 77% | 3169 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 68% | 3087 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,307 psi | 75% | 3176 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,655 psi | 75% | 3192 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 68% | 3117 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,656 psi | 79% | 3304 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3202 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 79% | 3261 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,049 psi | 47% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 72% | 3248 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 41.2 gr | 80% | 32,663 psi | 59% | 3064 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,656 psi | 79% | 3323 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,020 psi | 81% | 3245 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 71% | 3110 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,969 psi | 63% | 3048 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,133 psi | 74% | 3199 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 68% | 3087 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,102 psi | 71% | 3182 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,006 psi | 83% | 3278 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,930 psi | 74% | 3182 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,772 psi | 77% | 3146 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,375 psi | 64% | 2969 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,453 psi | 77% | 3143 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,409 psi | 77% | 3202 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,071 psi | 65% | 3068 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,881 psi | 61% | 3094 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,076 psi | 78% | 3146 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 70% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 71% | 3114 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,908 psi | 58% | 2920 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,757 psi | 77% | 3241 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,643 psi | 81% | 3248 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 69% | 3091 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,192 psi | 76% | 3238 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,244 psi | 64% | 3015 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,193 psi | 80% | 3294 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 73% | 3189 fps | 97% |
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 | 70gr | Merlin Virtus. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,517 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,218 fps to 3,517 fps. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 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 63–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 70.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-17 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 70gr | Merlin Virtus 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.