Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 86gr | Peregrine VLR-5 bullet and 66 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-16 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>> | 84% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,527 psi | 81% | 3028 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3107 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3071 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,601 psi | 84% | 3169 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3110 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3182 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3212 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,322 psi | 77% | 3064 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,863 psi | 87% | 3248 fps | 98.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,225 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,166 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3192 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,418 psi | 64% | 2008 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,703 psi | 86% | 3022 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 3100 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3110 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 3084 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3048 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3041 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 3064 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 3094 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma MRPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3199 fps | 96% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3150 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,868 psi | 65% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,893 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,820 psi | 88% | 3173 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3222 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3130 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3222 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 3064 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,863 psi | 88% | 3100 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3041 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3100 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,805 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,037 psi | 87% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 2989 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 3097 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 3169 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,921 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 3150 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3074 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,951 psi | 90% | 3169 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,753 psi | 68% | 3064 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 99.7% |
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% | 43,337 psi | 78% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,263 psi | 75% | 2959 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,046 psi | 74% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,027 psi | 63% | 2841 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,987 psi | 72% | 2887 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,366 psi | 78% | 3097 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,798 psi | 72% | 2910 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,685 psi | 77% | 2982 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 38.7 gr | 84% | 35,128 psi | 64% | 2861 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 39.7 gr | 80% | 34,577 psi | 63% | 2874 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,605 psi | 59% | 2808 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,392 psi | 69% | 3025 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 71% | 2913 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 73% | 2923 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,543 psi | 84% | 3104 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,110 psi | 54% | 2680 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,888 psi | 79% | 3038 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,441 psi | 84% | 3123 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,266 psi | 48% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,687 psi | 83% | 3018 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,003 psi | 76% | 2930 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,570 psi | 81% | 2956 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,702 psi | 85% | 3041 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,991 psi | 81% | 2989 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,390 psi | 66% | 2858 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 79% | 3018 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 2992 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,930 psi | 76% | 2930 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,218 psi | 71% | 2867 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,179 psi | 82% | 3018 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,948 psi | 83% | 3005 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,499 psi | 84% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,018 psi | 76% | 2969 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,483 psi | 80% | 3133 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,418 psi | 64% | 2848 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,105 psi | 76% | 2989 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,250 psi | 76% | 3018 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,731 psi | 48% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,526 psi | 79% | 2963 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,730 psi | 83% | 3110 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,883 psi | 67% | 2949 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,594 psi | 68% | 2927 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 44.3 gr | 88% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3005 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 79% | 2953 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 67% | 2848 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,218 psi | 71% | 2867 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,930 psi | 76% | 2930 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,179 psi | 82% | 3018 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,493 psi | 70% | 2910 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,861 psi | 83% | 3028 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 72% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,077 psi | 80% | 2923 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,869 psi | 69% | 2858 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,470 psi | 50% | 2654 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,584 psi | 79% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 80% | 2940 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,071 psi | 65% | 2789 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,912 psi | 67% | 2851 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,699 psi | 77% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,448 psi | 66% | 2851 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,040 psi | 60% | 2828 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,010 psi | 58% | 2697 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,543 psi | 84% | 3104 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,806 psi | 56% | 2835 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,484 psi | 82% | 3028 fps | 99.4% |
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 66 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 86gr | Peregrine VLR-5. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,248 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,008 fps to 3,248 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 66 of the 66 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 86.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-26 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-16, Alliant Reloder-17 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 86gr | Peregrine VLR-5 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.