Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 70gr | Nosler Varmageddon bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-16, 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 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,661 psi | 90% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,922 psi | 90% | 3379 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3425 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 3340 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,457 psi | 88% | 3337 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3353 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3350 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,922 psi | 90% | 3510 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,066 psi | 87% | 3360 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3383 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3435 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,805 psi | 88% | 3478 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,189 psi | 71% | 3225 fps | 96.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,818 psi | 85% | 3333 fps | 97% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,370 psi | 88% | 3373 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 3369 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3379 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,718 psi | 86% | 3353 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,674 psi | 86% | 3366 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,702 psi | 85% | 3373 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,186 psi | 64% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3353 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,195 psi | 85% | 3360 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,718 psi | 86% | 3317 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3356 fps | 97% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,995 psi | 90% | 3425 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3353 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3376 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,980 psi | 90% | 3323 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3320 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,371 psi | 89% | 3350 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,647 psi | 90% | 3360 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 3369 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3419 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,298 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3350 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3376 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,534 psi | 64% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 3442 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,400 psi | 89% | 3445 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,530 psi | 90% | 3471 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,617 psi | 90% | 3343 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3366 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3376 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3320 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 3360 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3310 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,805 psi | 88% | 3356 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,311 psi | 86% | 3235 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3238 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,181 psi | 85% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,674 psi | 86% | 3314 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 3366 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,137 psi | 85% | 3425 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3274 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,166 psi | 85% | 3291 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,225 psi | 87% | 3360 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3346 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3320 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 3356 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,859 psi | 78% | 3323 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3333 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3399 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3360 fps | 98.8% |
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 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,625 psi | 74% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,392 psi | 69% | 3130 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,192 psi | 78% | 3291 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,309 psi | 80% | 3271 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3146 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,340 psi | 84% | 3291 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,441 psi | 84% | 3297 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 73% | 3278 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 67% | 3100 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,987 psi | 72% | 3179 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 44.7 gr | 92% | 42,409 psi | 77% | 3301 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 43.9 gr | 84% | 36,912 psi | 67% | 3179 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,724 psi | 66% | 3156 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,613 psi | 79% | 3261 fps | 96.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,796 psi | 67% | 3100 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,397 psi | 82% | 3304 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,308 psi | 78% | 3245 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,686 psi | 81% | 3287 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,506 psi | 66% | 3100 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 74% | 3238 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,034 psi | 47% | 1998 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,685 psi | 77% | 3222 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,005 psi | 80% | 3294 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 71% | 3123 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,379 psi | 75% | 3228 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,988 psi | 74% | 3222 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,340 psi | 84% | 3291 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 79% | 3248 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,237 psi | 80% | 3202 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,320 psi | 71% | 3133 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,236 psi | 78% | 3219 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,497 psi | 79% | 3232 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 71% | 3166 fps | 96% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,004 psi | 78% | 3287 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 71% | 3173 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,456 psi | 84% | 3278 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,847 psi | 83% | 3304 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,426 psi | 48% | 2047 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,003 psi | 76% | 3301 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 41.8 gr | 80% | 34,214 psi | 62% | 3114 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,728 psi | 77% | 3301 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,050 psi | 83% | 3389 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 74% | 3156 fps | 97.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,490 psi | 62% | 3028 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 79% | 3248 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,320 psi | 71% | 3133 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,159 psi | 69% | 3156 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,759 psi | 81% | 3245 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,873 psi | 78% | 3228 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,512 psi | 81% | 3179 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,028 psi | 67% | 3009 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,237 psi | 80% | 3176 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,382 psi | 80% | 3245 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 64% | 3045 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,475 psi | 61% | 3074 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,788 psi | 81% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,451 psi | 73% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,118 psi | 74% | 3150 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 61% | 2966 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,105 psi | 76% | 3225 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,383 psi | 84% | 3284 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,740 psi | 72% | 3130 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,469 psi | 80% | 3291 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,914 psi | 72% | 3255 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,606 psi | 63% | 2995 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,035 psi | 83% | 3330 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,221 psi | 76% | 3225 fps | 97.5% |
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 67 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 70gr | Nosler Varmageddon. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,510 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,231 fps to 3,510 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 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 64–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 70.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, 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. Alliant Reloder-16, ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 70gr | Nosler Varmageddon 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.