Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 90gr | Barnes X S bullet and 46 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Norma MRP, Alliant Reloder-26 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% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3048 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3061 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 2986 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3107 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 3123 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,323 psi | 78% | 3025 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 99.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3002 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3035 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,878 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,622 psi | 66% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 3028 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,674 psi | 86% | 2969 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,776 psi | 88% | 3045 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2976 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 3015 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,628 psi | 81% | 2953 fps | 97% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 3146 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,239 psi | 85% | 3038 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,892 psi | 88% | 3081 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,289 psi | 67% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,879 psi | 90% | 3015 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,907 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3143 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,879 psi | 90% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3002 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2976 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 3015 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,572 psi | 86% | 3025 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 2920 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,009 psi | 90% | 3028 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,732 psi | 86% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3035 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,573 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3104 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,443 psi | 88% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3035 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,773 psi | 81% | 3176 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>> | 90% | 38,522 psi | 70% | 2818 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 68% | 2815 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,339 psi | 82% | 2930 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,064 psi | 83% | 2963 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 37.2 gr | 80% | 36,230 psi | 66% | 2815 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 73% | 2949 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,647 psi | 55% | 2674 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,479 psi | 70% | 2904 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 44.1 gr | 86% | 35,085 psi | 63% | 2861 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 2982 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,874 psi | 79% | 2887 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,063 psi | 80% | 2976 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,808 psi | 61% | 2710 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,265 psi | 78% | 2982 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 50% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,077 psi | 80% | 2913 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,308 psi | 77% | 2854 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,882 psi | 65% | 2762 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 73% | 2812 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,075 psi | 74% | 2848 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,566 psi | 72% | 2841 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma MRP | 45.8 gr | 92% | 42,569 psi | 77% | 3015 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,811 psi | 67% | 2802 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,640 psi | 74% | 2904 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,920 psi | 51% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,818 psi | 85% | 2956 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,830 psi | 78% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 67% | 2828 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,305 psi | 69% | 2887 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,077 psi | 80% | 2920 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,874 psi | 79% | 2887 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,263 psi | 73% | 2812 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,075 psi | 74% | 2848 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,556 psi | 81% | 2966 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 82% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,105 psi | 76% | 2808 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,280 psi | 80% | 2917 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,446 psi | 61% | 2759 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,527 psi | 82% | 2969 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,148 psi | 76% | 2841 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 2799 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,898 psi | 69% | 2808 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,531 psi | 57% | 2700 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,507 psi | 68% | 2772 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 2917 fps | 95% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,080 psi | 53% | 2703 fps | 95.6% |
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 73 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 90gr | Barnes X S. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,196 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,982 fps to 3,196 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 73 of the 73 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 90.0 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. Norma MRP, Alliant Reloder-26, Alliant Reloder-16 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 90gr | Barnes X S 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 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.