Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 85gr | Barnes X BT bullet and 43 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, ReloadSwiss RS 70 and Alliant Reloder-16.
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,717 psi | 85% | 3097 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 3071 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,413 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,819 psi | 87% | 3186 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,747 psi | 86% | 3176 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,901 psi | 76% | 3054 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,978 psi | 85% | 3228 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,341 psi | 87% | 3136 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 3087 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,245 psi | 66% | 2031 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,269 psi | 89% | 3074 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 3094 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,574 psi | 90% | 3081 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,732 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,989 psi | 78% | 2989 fps | 96% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,879 psi | 90% | 3245 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 3127 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,159 psi | 67% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3061 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,427 psi | 86% | 3189 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,400 psi | 89% | 3176 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 3182 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3087 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,574 psi | 90% | 3081 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,732 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 3130 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3022 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3077 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,327 psi | 89% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,384 psi | 86% | 3077 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,951 psi | 90% | 3143 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,123 psi | 85% | 3146 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 3048 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,424 psi | 79% | 3215 fps | 100% |
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,163 psi | 76% | 2969 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 66% | 2858 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,193 psi | 80% | 2979 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 81% | 3012 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 37.6 gr | 80% | 35,128 psi | 64% | 2854 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 71% | 2995 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,459 psi | 57% | 2762 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,668 psi | 72% | 2999 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 46.6 gr | 90% | 38,435 psi | 70% | 3022 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,397 psi | 82% | 3031 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 82% | 3028 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,368 psi | 82% | 3074 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,706 psi | 59% | 2746 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,282 psi | 49% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,456 psi | 84% | 3018 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,311 psi | 84% | 3015 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,635 psi | 63% | 2802 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 71% | 2854 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 3002 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,538 psi | 73% | 2933 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,731 psi | 85% | 3182 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,520 psi | 64% | 2841 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,771 psi | 76% | 3002 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,659 psi | 50% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,469 psi | 82% | 3002 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,669 psi | 75% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,782 psi | 68% | 2923 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 43.1 gr | 84% | 39,392 psi | 71% | 2982 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 77% | 2966 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 71% | 2854 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 3002 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,134 psi | 78% | 3009 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 79% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,555 psi | 79% | 2907 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,989 psi | 78% | 2966 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 59% | 2802 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,915 psi | 74% | 2887 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,014 psi | 67% | 2844 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,666 psi | 66% | 2848 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,330 psi | 62% | 2851 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 66% | 2808 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,658 psi | 83% | 3081 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,950 psi | 54% | 2792 fps | 95.1% |
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 43 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes X BT. Norma MRP delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,245 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,031 fps to 3,245 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (381 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-25, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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-26, ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-16 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes X BT 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.