Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .25-06 Ackley Improved with .257 | 128gr | Hornady ELD-X bullet and 81 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Accurate MAGPRO, Accurate High Country and Alliant Reloder-26.
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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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,957 psi | 89% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,463 psi | 85% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,608 psi | 85% | 2982 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,652 psi | 87% | 2986 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,449 psi | 86% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,333 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,885 psi | 89% | 2989 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,515 psi | 74% | 2825 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,120 psi | 66% | 2782 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,536 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,783 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,492 psi | 87% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,493 psi | 88% | 2940 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,869 psi | 86% | 2913 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,740 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,784 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,462 psi | 83% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,666 psi | 85% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,985 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 96.1% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,565 psi | 87% | 2963 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,459 psi | 77% | 2894 fps | 98.4% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,740 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,914 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,505 psi | 82% | 2913 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,001 psi | 90% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,145 psi | 88% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,231 psi | 86% | 2881 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,870 psi | 89% | 2927 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,565 psi | 87% | 2907 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,565 psi | 87% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,301 psi | 82% | 3022 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,827 psi | 89% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,912 psi | 57% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,985 psi | 86% | 2858 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,898 psi | 86% | 2841 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,028 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,566 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,434 psi | 85% | 2963 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,347 psi | 86% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,088 psi | 89% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,332 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,913 psi | 87% | 2910 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,667 psi | 59% | 2703 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,725 psi | 88% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,493 psi | 88% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,289 psi | 86% | 2982 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,347 psi | 86% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnumᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 58,929 psi | 90% | 2976 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,782 psi | 58% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,726 psi | 90% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,058 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,564 psi | 85% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,812 psi | 89% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,114 psi | 83% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,950 psi | 75% | 2900 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,724 psi | 85% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,958 psi | 90% | 2956 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,914 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,347 psi | 86% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,088 psi | 89% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,334 psi | 88% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,958 psi | 90% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,651 psi | 85% | 2792 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,494 psi | 90% | 2953 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,871 psi | 90% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,463 psi | 85% | 2831 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,204 psi | 89% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,956 psi | 86% | 2877 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,492 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,695 psi | 85% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,390 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,682 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,551 psi | 88% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,493 psi | 88% | 2999 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N565ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,319 psi | 88% | 2976 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N568ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,082 psi | 77% | 2904 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 59,059 psi | 90% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,493 psi | 88% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,695 psi | 87% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,854 psi | 86% | 2871 fps | 99.4% |
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>> | 80% | 33,794 psi | 52% | 2454 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 70% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Accurate High Country | 50.6 gr | 84% | 42,076 psi | 64% | 2733 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | 54 gr | 88% | 45,759 psi | 70% | 2795 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,156 psi | 81% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,710 psi | 58% | 2575 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,321 psi | 63% | 2684 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,395 psi | 65% | 2700 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,359 psi | 51% | 2539 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,203 psi | 59% | 2582 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,418 psi | 83% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,410 psi | 67% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,980 psi | 77% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 58% | 2575 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,926 psi | 55% | 2569 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,416 psi | 50% | 2484 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,224 psi | 43% | 2385 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 49.6 gr | 80% | 35,230 psi | 54% | 2612 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,678 psi | 81% | 2828 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,247 psi | 59% | 2621 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,392 psi | 59% | 2654 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,926 psi | 55% | 2569 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,964 psi | 73% | 2710 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,567 psi | 62% | 2664 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,506 psi | 85% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,978 psi | 72% | 2756 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,545 psi | 76% | 2772 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,077 psi | 68% | 2690 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,323 psi | 66% | 2674 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,002 psi | 63% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,897 psi | 55% | 2641 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,470 psi | 71% | 2779 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,818 psi | 43% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,453 psi | 67% | 2641 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,313 psi | 76% | 2733 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,178 psi | 66% | 2657 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,873 psi | 66% | 2631 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,380 psi | 65% | 2720 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,050 psi | 72% | 2687 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,368 psi | 70% | 2677 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,153 psi | 45% | 2336 fps | 95% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 67% | 2677 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,011 psi | 52% | 2589 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,186 psi | 54% | 2579 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,512 psi | 68% | 2697 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,378 psi | 60% | 2664 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,294 psi | 66% | 2690 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,070 psi | 54% | 2543 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 44% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,013 psi | 84% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,113 psi | 81% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,252 psi | 69% | 2730 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 67% | 2743 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,663 psi | 50% | 2549 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,252 psi | 69% | 2828 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,330 psi | 80% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,872 psi | 64% | 2618 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,043 psi | 57% | 2559 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,964 psi | 73% | 2710 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,050 psi | 72% | 2687 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,368 psi | 70% | 2677 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,664 psi | 82% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,417 psi | 80% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,050 psi | 71% | 2635 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,724 psi | 56% | 2552 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,156 psi | 80% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,554 psi | 65% | 2602 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,321 psi | 63% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,753 psi | 58% | 2546 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,922 psi | 76% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,919 psi | 70% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,795 psi | 53% | 2470 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,295 psi | 69% | 2694 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,390 psi | 56% | 2559 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,613 psi | 67% | 2753 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,511 psi | 67% | 2736 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,659 psi | 71% | 2841 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,962 psi | 69% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,978 psi | 72% | 2756 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 44% | 2490 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,825 psi | 56% | 2523 fps | 95.2% |
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 81 powders for .25-06 Ackley Improved loaded with the .257 | 128gr | Hornady ELD-X. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,031 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,804 fps to 3,031 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 81 of the 81 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (450 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 128.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, 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. Accurate MAGPRO, Accurate High Country, Alliant Reloder-26 rank at the top here: for .25-06 Ackley Improved with the .257 | 128gr | Hornady ELD-X 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.