Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 90gr | Berger BT Target bullet and 56 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 2700 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 2979 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3061 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,138 psi | 87% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 3012 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3054 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,369 psi | 84% | 3091 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,437 psi | 73% | 2972 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3219 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3018 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 3002 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3054 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3058 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,717 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,984 psi | 65% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,196 psi | 87% | 2995 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 2995 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,892 psi | 88% | 3068 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,950 psi | 87% | 2995 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,834 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,828 psi | 74% | 2894 fps | 96% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 3041 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3166 fps | 97% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3054 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,863 psi | 88% | 3064 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,356 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,521 psi | 66% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,920 psi | 85% | 2979 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,545 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,950 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,574 psi | 90% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3018 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,950 psi | 87% | 2995 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,834 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,703 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 2936 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,980 psi | 90% | 3048 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 3051 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,342 psi | 89% | 3058 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,269 psi | 87% | 3114 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,355 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,800 psi | 76% | 3123 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% | 46,137 psi | 83% | 2917 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,943 psi | 72% | 2874 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 81% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,895 psi | 61% | 2749 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,873 psi | 78% | 2894 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,294 psi | 78% | 2927 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,253 psi | 84% | 2999 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,547 psi | 61% | 2762 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,811 psi | 68% | 2904 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,588 psi | 54% | 2664 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,087 psi | 69% | 2910 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 46.5 gr | 90% | 36,637 psi | 66% | 2927 fps | 96% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,279 psi | 78% | 2933 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,772 psi | 79% | 2907 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 79% | 2936 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,307 psi | 75% | 2930 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,922 psi | 56% | 2651 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,627 psi | 79% | 3009 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,948 psi | 49% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,020 psi | 81% | 2933 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,193 psi | 80% | 2933 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 2881 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,663 psi | 59% | 2703 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,223 psi | 82% | 2936 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 67% | 2759 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,047 psi | 78% | 2913 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,261 psi | 69% | 2835 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,629 psi | 83% | 2986 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,322 psi | 77% | 3028 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,997 psi | 62% | 2753 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,701 psi | 83% | 3002 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,277 psi | 73% | 2917 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 49% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,918 psi | 79% | 2917 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,234 psi | 73% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | 41.3 gr | 82% | 35,969 psi | 65% | 2828 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 43 gr | 84% | 37,898 psi | 69% | 2897 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 74% | 2874 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,772 psi | 79% | 2907 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 67% | 2759 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,223 psi | 82% | 2936 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,047 psi | 78% | 2913 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,669 psi | 75% | 2923 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,482 psi | 77% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,756 psi | 76% | 2822 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,089 psi | 74% | 2871 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 55% | 2697 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,411 psi | 82% | 2989 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,436 psi | 71% | 2805 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,317 psi | 64% | 2753 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,818 psi | 83% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 63% | 2749 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,416 psi | 59% | 2749 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,766 psi | 63% | 2723 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,307 psi | 75% | 2930 fps | 95% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,834 psi | 54% | 2756 fps | 96.2% |
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 56 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 90gr | Berger BT Target. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,219 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,982 fps to 3,219 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 56 of the 56 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 1:9.5 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, ReloadSwiss RS 70, ReloadSwiss RS 62 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 90gr | Berger BT Target 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.