Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 85gr | Barnes Solid BT bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-17 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 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,398 psi | 84% | 3077 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3156 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 3107 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,776 psi | 86% | 3205 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3130 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,152 psi | 85% | 3087 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 3159 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,239 psi | 85% | 3189 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,801 psi | 79% | 3107 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3297 fps | 99% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,210 psi | 85% | 3084 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,776 psi | 86% | 3091 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,747 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3146 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,636 psi | 64% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,863 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3146 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 3123 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,892 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,429 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma MRPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3245 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,427 psi | 84% | 3087 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,448 psi | 66% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 3173 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3186 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 3051 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 3084 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,892 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3077 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,487 psi | 90% | 3209 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,747 psi | 86% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3081 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,951 psi | 90% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,776 psi | 88% | 3196 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,908 psi | 90% | 3110 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3146 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,465 psi | 71% | 3123 fps | 99.5% |
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% | 45,411 psi | 82% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,364 psi | 73% | 2949 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,931 psi | 78% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,593 psi | 66% | 2887 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,220 psi | 75% | 2927 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,614 psi | 81% | 3136 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,191 psi | 75% | 2953 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 80% | 3025 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,332 psi | 66% | 2907 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 40.2 gr | 80% | 35,839 psi | 65% | 2917 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,821 psi | 58% | 2795 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 47.4 gr | 92% | 37,246 psi | 67% | 3002 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 74% | 2956 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,945 psi | 76% | 2966 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,904 psi | 81% | 3081 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,401 psi | 57% | 2726 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,237 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,614 psi | 48% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,308 psi | 78% | 2969 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,730 psi | 83% | 2989 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,093 psi | 83% | 3025 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,491 psi | 64% | 2841 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,194 psi | 82% | 3058 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,410 psi | 79% | 2972 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,596 psi | 73% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,816 psi | 79% | 2999 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,453 psi | 79% | 3012 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,919 psi | 83% | 3176 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,738 psi | 66% | 2890 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,352 psi | 78% | 3025 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,872 psi | 74% | 2995 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 49% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,177 psi | 76% | 2943 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,101 psi | 69% | 2995 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,579 psi | 66% | 2910 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 43.9 gr | 86% | 38,754 psi | 70% | 2979 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,034 psi | 81% | 2989 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,653 psi | 70% | 2894 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,596 psi | 73% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,410 psi | 79% | 2972 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,816 psi | 79% | 2999 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 72% | 2953 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,567 psi | 73% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,368 psi | 82% | 2959 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,349 psi | 71% | 2904 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 52% | 2707 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,817 psi | 81% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,397 psi | 82% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 68% | 2828 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,897 psi | 65% | 2835 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,034 psi | 80% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,782 psi | 68% | 2894 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,795 psi | 63% | 2884 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,112 psi | 60% | 2740 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,904 psi | 81% | 3081 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,124 psi | 55% | 2815 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 83 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes Solid BT. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,297 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,028 fps to 3,297 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 83 of the 83 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 85.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, ADI AR 2213, Alliant Reloder-22 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 70, Alliant Reloder-17, Alliant Reloder-26 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes Solid BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate High Country, ADI AR 2209, ADI AR 2213 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.