Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 85gr | Barnes XLC BT bullet and 44 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% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 3094 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,922 psi | 90% | 3159 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3071 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 3156 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,747 psi | 86% | 3186 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3173 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,061 psi | 76% | 3061 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 3235 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,283 psi | 87% | 3087 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,457 psi | 88% | 3087 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,572 psi | 86% | 3091 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,477 psi | 66% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,443 psi | 89% | 3077 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3077 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 3097 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3081 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,917 psi | 78% | 2986 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,849 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 3130 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,101 psi | 67% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3068 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,355 psi | 86% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 3173 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 3189 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3081 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 3084 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3146 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,963 psi | 85% | 3045 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,308 psi | 78% | 3209 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% | 42,351 psi | 77% | 2976 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,158 psi | 65% | 2854 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,338 psi | 80% | 2982 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,918 psi | 81% | 3018 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 37.6 gr | 80% | 35,070 psi | 63% | 2851 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,320 psi | 71% | 2995 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,459 psi | 57% | 2766 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,581 psi | 72% | 2999 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 46.7 gr | 90% | 38,580 psi | 70% | 3025 fps | 96% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,324 psi | 82% | 3028 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,455 psi | 82% | 3025 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,571 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,648 psi | 59% | 2746 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 49% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,615 psi | 84% | 3022 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,514 psi | 84% | 3018 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,824 psi | 63% | 2805 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3031 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 71% | 2858 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,078 psi | 82% | 3009 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,422 psi | 73% | 2933 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 65% | 2844 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,930 psi | 76% | 3005 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,891 psi | 50% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,614 psi | 83% | 3005 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 75% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,000 psi | 69% | 2927 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 43.2 gr | 84% | 39,566 psi | 72% | 2986 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,859 psi | 78% | 2972 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 71% | 2858 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3031 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,078 psi | 82% | 3009 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,323 psi | 78% | 3015 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,845 psi | 79% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,468 psi | 79% | 2907 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,207 psi | 78% | 2972 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,430 psi | 59% | 2799 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,075 psi | 74% | 2894 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,956 psi | 67% | 2844 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,593 psi | 66% | 2844 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,490 psi | 62% | 2854 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 66% | 2808 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,571 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,052 psi | 54% | 2799 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 74 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes XLC BT. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,235 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,037 fps to 3,235 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 74 of the 74 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, Bofors RP15 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 XLC BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate High Country, Accurate MAGPRO, ADI AR 2209 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.