Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 85gr | Rhino Solid Shank bullet and 54 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 ReloadSwiss RS 62.
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 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,979 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,558 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,414 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,921 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,834 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,791 psi | 88% | 3209 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 3241 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,919 psi | 83% | 3159 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 3291 fps | 99% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3130 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,966 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 3130 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,921 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,998 psi | 65% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,703 psi | 86% | 3068 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3130 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,732 psi | 86% | 3068 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,892 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,776 psi | 86% | 3071 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3107 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 3117 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,225 psi | 87% | 3235 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,862 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3179 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,492 psi | 66% | 2096 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 3163 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,879 psi | 90% | 3248 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,980 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,400 psi | 89% | 3127 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,776 psi | 86% | 3071 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,892 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3107 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3123 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,210 psi | 85% | 3009 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,574 psi | 90% | 3123 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3199 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,892 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,283 psi | 87% | 3130 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 3189 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3097 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 3130 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,394 psi | 75% | 3186 fps | 99.9% |
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% | 39,653 psi | 72% | 2940 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,897 psi | 65% | 2877 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,786 psi | 77% | 2972 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,873 psi | 78% | 2999 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,774 psi | 83% | 3068 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,520 psi | 64% | 2890 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 68% | 2969 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,299 psi | 57% | 2785 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 48.2 gr | 90% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2989 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,033 psi | 78% | 3005 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,079 psi | 83% | 3031 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,511 psi | 79% | 3009 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,918 psi | 79% | 3064 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 55% | 2710 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,731 psi | 48% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,962 psi | 81% | 3012 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 3068 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,788 psi | 81% | 3009 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,780 psi | 63% | 2828 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,150 psi | 82% | 3018 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,668 psi | 72% | 2894 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,917 psi | 78% | 2986 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,078 psi | 82% | 3166 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,984 psi | 65% | 2877 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,237 psi | 82% | 3074 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,987 psi | 72% | 2982 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 49% | 1880 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 79% | 2992 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,842 psi | 72% | 3045 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | 42.8 gr | 82% | 35,766 psi | 65% | 2894 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 44.6 gr | 84% | 37,826 psi | 68% | 2966 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3031 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,393 psi | 73% | 2943 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,079 psi | 83% | 3031 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,668 psi | 72% | 2894 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,150 psi | 82% | 3018 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,917 psi | 78% | 2986 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,365 psi | 75% | 2995 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,235 psi | 76% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,222 psi | 80% | 2949 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,988 psi | 74% | 2946 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,168 psi | 55% | 2756 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,078 psi | 82% | 3058 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 71% | 2871 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,882 psi | 63% | 2815 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,571 psi | 82% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,927 psi | 67% | 2877 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,389 psi | 62% | 2874 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,635 psi | 63% | 2789 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,918 psi | 79% | 3064 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,646 psi | 54% | 2808 fps | 95.3% |
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 54 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Rhino Solid Shank. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,291 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,051 fps to 3,291 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 54 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (381 MPa), the top charges use 65–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, Alliant Reloder-23, 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, ReloadSwiss RS 62 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 85gr | Rhino Solid Shank 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.