Load data for .243 Ackley Improved + .243 | 95gr | Barnes X S

.243 Ackley Improved cartridge drawing
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Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Barnes
Bullet Weight:95 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.243"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):2.045"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:57 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle (LR)
Barrel Length:24"
Max. allowed Pressure:55,259 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:9.0

Load data in caliber .243 Ackley Improved with .243 | 95gr | Barnes X S bullet and 51 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Norma MRP 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"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 3100<<locked>>96%48,660 psi88%2963 fps98.3%
Accurate 4350<<locked>>86%47,152 psi85%2959 fps99.2%
ADI AR 2208<<locked>>82%49,647 psi90%2940 fps99.7%
Alliant Reloder-16<<locked>>88%47,456 psi86%3012 fps99.6%
Alliant Reloder-17<<locked>>84%47,819 psi87%3035 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-23<<locked>>98%48,124 psi87%3035 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ<<locked>>100%45,005 psi81%3002 fps98.4%
Alliant Reloder-26<<locked>>94%47,761 psi86%3104 fps99.4%
Bofors RP15ᴾ<<locked>>100%49,603 psi90%3064 fps96.1%
Bofors RP7<<locked>>84%47,732 psi86%2897 fps96.7%
Hodgdon H414<<locked>>86%48,646 psi88%2999 fps97.5%
Hodgdon H4350<<locked>>84%48,472 psi88%2953 fps96.1%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V<<locked>>90%47,688 psi86%2943 fps100%
Hodgdon Superformance<<locked>>86%48,080 psi87%3018 fps97.1%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%36,796 psi67%1929 fps100%
IMR 4350<<locked>>88%48,457 psi88%2933 fps96.9%
IMR 4451 Enduron<<locked>>84%48,907 psi89%2930 fps97.4%
IMR 4831<<locked>>88%47,616 psi86%2953 fps99.3%
Lovex S065<<locked>>86%49,385 psi89%2933 fps98.6%
Lovex S070<<locked>>86%47,674 psi86%2920 fps97.4%
Lovex S071ᴾ<<locked>>100%46,412 psi84%2920 fps97.9%
Norma MRP<<locked>>94%47,181 psi85%3054 fps97.2%
Norma URP<<locked>>88%48,863 psi88%2995 fps99.4%
Ramshot Hunter<<locked>>88%47,529 psi86%2982 fps98.1%
Ramshot Magnumᴾ<<locked>>100%47,688 psi86%2999 fps96.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%37,492 psi68%1975 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 60<<locked>>82%47,355 psi86%3031 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62<<locked>>88%49,792 psi90%3035 fps99.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 70<<locked>>88%48,037 psi87%3045 fps99.1%
ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ<<locked>>100%44,237 psi80%3015 fps96.3%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>82%48,530 psi88%2933 fps100%
Rottweil R 905<<locked>>94%49,400 psi89%3015 fps96.2%
Rottweil R 907<<locked>>84%47,732 psi86%2897 fps96.7%
Shooters World Long Rifle<<locked>>86%49,385 psi89%2933 fps98.6%
Shooters World SW4350<<locked>>86%47,674 psi86%2920 fps97.4%
SNPE Vectan SP 11<<locked>>82%49,110 psi89%2979 fps99.9%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>82%49,037 psi89%2825 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000<<locked>>86%48,820 psi88%2877 fps97.5%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000<<locked>>94%49,037 psi89%3009 fps96.1%
Somchem S355<<locked>>82%48,559 psi88%2930 fps100%
Somchem S365<<locked>>90%47,950 psi87%3009 fps100%
Somchem S385<<locked>>92%47,181 psi85%2936 fps96.5%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>84%49,487 psi90%2907 fps100%
Vihtavuori N160<<locked>>86%47,543 psi86%2933 fps99.2%
Vihtavuori N165<<locked>>98%49,255 psi89%2963 fps96.6%
Vihtavuori N550<<locked>>86%47,108 psi85%2940 fps99%
Vihtavuori N555<<locked>>94%47,688 psi86%3009 fps99.6%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL<<locked>>88%49,777 psi90%2953 fps100%
Winchester 760<<locked>>86%48,646 psi88%2999 fps97.5%
Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ<<locked>>100%46,688 psi84%3150 fps100%
Winchester Supreme 780<<locked>>96%49,748 psi90%2979 fps96%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 3100<<locked>>88%37,753 psi68%2736 fps95.5%
Accurate 4350<<locked>>80%38,957 psi70%2785 fps97.6%
ADI AR 2208<<locked>>80%46,818 psi85%2887 fps99.5%
Alliant Reloder-16<<locked>>80%37,304 psi68%2782 fps97.5%
Alliant Reloder-17<<locked>>80%41,901 psi76%2913 fps99.6%
Alliant Reloder-23<<locked>>80%28,282 psi51%2539 fps95.3%
Alliant Reloder-25<<locked>>92%35,447 psi64%2759 fps95%
Alliant Reloder-2642.8 gr84%34,185 psi62%2776 fps95.5%
Bofors RP15<<locked>>98%46,804 psi85%3009 fps95.3%
Bofors RP7<<locked>>80%42,525 psi77%2792 fps95.3%
Hodgdon H414<<locked>>80%40,234 psi73%2818 fps95.2%
Hodgdon H4350<<locked>>82%45,730 psi83%2897 fps95.4%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V<<locked>>80%35,128 psi64%2680 fps98.2%
Hodgdon Superformance<<locked>>82%41,974 psi76%2890 fps95.3%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%27,615 psi50%1729 fps100%
IMR 4350<<locked>>84%42,902 psi78%2822 fps95.4%
IMR 4451 Enduron<<locked>>80%43,410 psi79%2815 fps96%
IMR 4831<<locked>>80%37,101 psi67%2726 fps97.2%
Lovex S065<<locked>>80%41,669 psi75%2776 fps97.1%
Lovex S070<<locked>>80%39,958 psi72%2756 fps95.3%
Lovex S071<<locked>>92%36,535 psi66%2707 fps95.1%
Norma MRP44.5 gr90%41,408 psi75%2923 fps95.4%
Norma URP<<locked>>80%38,276 psi69%2772 fps97.3%
Ramshot Hunter<<locked>>80%36,970 psi67%2749 fps95%
Ramshot Magnum<<locked>>98%44,512 psi81%2933 fps95.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%28,050 psi51%1765 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 60<<locked>>80%44,324 psi80%2972 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62<<locked>>80%38,218 psi69%2795 fps97.1%
ReloadSwiss RS 7040.4 gr80%37,101 psi67%2792 fps96.2%
ReloadSwiss RS 76<<locked>>98%41,234 psi75%2940 fps95%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>80%45,745 psi83%2881 fps99.9%
Rottweil R 905<<locked>>92%46,238 psi84%2953 fps95.4%
Rottweil R 907<<locked>>80%42,525 psi77%2792 fps95.3%
Shooters World Long Rifle<<locked>>80%41,669 psi75%2776 fps97.1%
Shooters World SW4350<<locked>>80%39,958 psi72%2756 fps95.3%
SNPE Vectan SP 11<<locked>>80%46,006 psi83%2923 fps99.7%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>80%46,195 psi84%2776 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000<<locked>>80%40,828 psi74%2713 fps95.5%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000<<locked>>92%45,818 psi83%2946 fps95.2%
Somchem S355<<locked>>80%45,861 psi83%2877 fps99.8%
Somchem S365<<locked>>80%34,896 psi63%2733 fps99.3%
Somchem S385<<locked>>88%41,756 psi76%2825 fps95%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>80%43,700 psi79%2802 fps100%
Vihtavuori N160<<locked>>80%39,523 psi72%2766 fps97.6%
Vihtavuori N165<<locked>>94%43,468 psi79%2851 fps95.1%
Vihtavuori N550<<locked>>80%39,146 psi71%2769 fps97.3%
Vihtavuori N555<<locked>>80%30,922 psi56%2621 fps95.5%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL<<locked>>80%38,682 psi70%2736 fps99.3%
Winchester 760<<locked>>80%40,234 psi73%2818 fps95.2%
Winchester StaBALL HD<<locked>>84%28,500 psi52%2631 fps96.2%
Winchester Supreme 780<<locked>>94%46,499 psi84%2917 fps95.2%

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.

<<locked>> you need an access license to unlock this data.

This overview compares 51 powders for .243 Ackley Improved loaded with the .243 | 95gr | Barnes X S. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,150 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,929 fps to 3,150 fps. Alliant Reloder-25 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 51 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.

Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (381 MPa), the top charges use 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 95.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-25, Bofors RP15, 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, Norma MRP, ReloadSwiss RS 70 rank at the top here: for .243 Ackley Improved with the .243 | 95gr | Barnes X S 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.

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