Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 90gr | Berger BT M T bullet and 58 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Alliant Reloder-16 and ReloadSwiss RS 70.
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 2700 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,704 psi | 88% | 2963 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3048 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,747 psi | 86% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,688 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,341 psi | 87% | 3005 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,966 psi | 90% | 3173 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3028 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,791 psi | 88% | 3045 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,878 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,803 psi | 83% | 3077 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,219 psi | 73% | 2966 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 3205 fps | 99.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,717 psi | 85% | 3045 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3051 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 3136 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,042 psi | 65% | 1978 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2986 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3045 fps | 96.7% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 2992 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,240 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 2989 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 3035 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 3150 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,937 psi | 90% | 3104 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3054 fps | 99.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,564 psi | 66% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3031 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 3074 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,806 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 3012 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 2989 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,384 psi | 86% | 3038 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,732 psi | 86% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 2930 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,661 psi | 90% | 3041 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3038 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,456 psi | 86% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3048 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,717 psi | 85% | 3045 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,307 psi | 75% | 3110 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 2700 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,571 psi | 82% | 2904 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,668 psi | 72% | 2864 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 81% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,547 psi | 61% | 2743 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,801 psi | 77% | 2890 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,630 psi | 84% | 3107 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,989 psi | 78% | 2920 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,905 psi | 83% | 2989 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 37.2 gr | 80% | 33,286 psi | 60% | 2753 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 67% | 2887 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,356 psi | 53% | 2654 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,623 psi | 68% | 2897 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 46.2 gr | 90% | 36,376 psi | 66% | 2917 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,931 psi | 78% | 2923 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,180 psi | 84% | 2953 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,453 psi | 79% | 2927 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,613 psi | 79% | 2982 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 55% | 2641 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,499 psi | 84% | 3071 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,919 psi | 49% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 81% | 2930 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,932 psi | 80% | 2927 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,235 psi | 76% | 2871 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,722 psi | 63% | 2756 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 2927 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,537 psi | 72% | 2815 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,757 psi | 77% | 2904 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 82% | 2976 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,788 psi | 81% | 3084 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,678 psi | 61% | 2743 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,339 psi | 82% | 2992 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,001 psi | 72% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,209 psi | 49% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,627 psi | 79% | 2907 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 72% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,636 psi | 64% | 2818 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 42.7 gr | 84% | 37,666 psi | 68% | 2887 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 2949 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,451 psi | 73% | 2864 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,180 psi | 84% | 2953 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,537 psi | 72% | 2815 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 2927 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,757 psi | 77% | 2904 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,350 psi | 75% | 2913 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,105 psi | 76% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,466 psi | 75% | 2812 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,741 psi | 74% | 2861 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 55% | 2690 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,860 psi | 81% | 2976 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,717 psi | 85% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 71% | 2795 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 63% | 2743 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,498 psi | 82% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,519 psi | 62% | 2743 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,850 psi | 58% | 2733 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,548 psi | 63% | 2717 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,961 psi | 80% | 2989 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,602 psi | 54% | 2746 fps | 96% |
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 58 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 90gr | Berger BT M T. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,205 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,978 fps to 3,205 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 58 of the 58 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 90.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-25 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, Alliant Reloder-16, ReloadSwiss RS 70 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 90gr | Berger BT M T 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.