Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .250 Savage with .257 | 100gr | Barnes X S bullet and 66 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon LEVERevolution and Bofors RP3.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,179 psi | 85% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,427 psi | 88% | 2756 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,759 psi | 86% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,818 psi | 88% | 2802 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,397 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,702 psi | 88% | 2802 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,065 psi | 89% | 2785 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,905 psi | 87% | 2759 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,442 psi | 90% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,731 psi | 88% | 2858 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,340 psi | 88% | 2815 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,703 psi | 90% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,050 psi | 89% | 2828 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,354 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,383 psi | 88% | 2825 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,774 psi | 86% | 2713 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,094 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,020 psi | 85% | 2848 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,195 psi | 87% | 2779 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,876 psi | 89% | 2795 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,079 psi | 89% | 2815 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,819 psi | 90% | 2884 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,737 psi | 66% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,831 psi | 85% | 2756 fps | 97% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,397 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,731 psi | 88% | 2772 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,368 psi | 86% | 2812 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,905 psi | 87% | 2759 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,861 psi | 87% | 2749 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,107 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,297 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,514 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,195 psi | 87% | 2762 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,542 psi | 86% | 2769 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,311 psi | 87% | 2818 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,890 psi | 87% | 2825 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,860 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,920 psi | 89% | 2753 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,940 psi | 66% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,788 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,803 psi | 87% | 2874 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,093 psi | 87% | 2907 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,266 psi | 86% | 2720 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,354 psi | 88% | 2756 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,803 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,107 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,514 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,181 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,572 psi | 90% | 2815 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,645 psi | 90% | 2717 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,891 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,659 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,253 psi | 89% | 2726 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,572 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,079 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,609 psi | 73% | 2733 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,906 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,268 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,456 psi | 90% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,803 psi | 87% | 2749 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,831 psi | 85% | 2746 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,340 psi | 88% | 2762 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,181 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,586 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,543 psi | 90% | 2851 fps | 99% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 97.6% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,103 psi | 76% | 2608 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,395 psi | 82% | 2700 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 64% | 2530 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,479 psi | 73% | 2641 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,981 psi | 60% | 2503 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,292 psi | 78% | 2690 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,440 psi | 84% | 2736 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,580 psi | 73% | 2608 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 70% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,947 psi | 83% | 2802 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,274 psi | 69% | 2608 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,310 psi | 86% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,887 psi | 79% | 2726 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,002 psi | 77% | 2779 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | 31.2 gr | 86% | 36,114 psi | 68% | 2615 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,553 psi | 77% | 2608 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,637 psi | 69% | 2621 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,467 psi | 80% | 2792 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,497 psi | 82% | 2730 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,830 psi | 83% | 2740 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,233 psi | 74% | 2654 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 31.5 gr | 84% | 37,463 psi | 71% | 2664 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,005 psi | 49% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,652 psi | 71% | 2605 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 67% | 2618 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,539 psi | 78% | 2671 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,089 psi | 76% | 2703 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,580 psi | 73% | 2608 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,323 psi | 82% | 2700 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 66% | 2579 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,827 psi | 75% | 2589 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,838 psi | 66% | 2536 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,680 psi | 69% | 2559 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,998 psi | 68% | 2572 fps | 98% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,191 psi | 78% | 2717 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,337 psi | 82% | 2776 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,351 psi | 80% | 2723 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,611 psi | 79% | 2648 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,310 psi | 50% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,815 psi | 81% | 2697 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,149 psi | 82% | 2822 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 32.3 gr | 86% | 33,982 psi | 64% | 2615 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 76% | 2621 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,041 psi | 66% | 2513 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,261 psi | 72% | 2654 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 66% | 2579 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,838 psi | 66% | 2536 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,163 psi | 80% | 2759 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,726 psi | 75% | 2657 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,782 psi | 71% | 2526 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,038 psi | 59% | 2392 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,191 psi | 78% | 2687 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,652 psi | 71% | 2539 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,756 psi | 77% | 2667 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,508 psi | 75% | 2667 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,187 psi | 68% | 2674 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,569 psi | 80% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 71% | 2536 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,112 psi | 63% | 2510 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 64% | 2510 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,315 psi | 63% | 2503 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,392 psi | 73% | 2602 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,880 psi | 62% | 2493 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,031 psi | 78% | 2667 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,927 psi | 70% | 2635 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,986 psi | 74% | 2661 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 66 powders for .250 Savage loaded with the .257 | 100gr | Barnes X S. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,907 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,762 fps to 2,907 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 66 of the 66 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 100.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Somchem S365 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon LEVERevolution, Bofors RP3 rank at the top here: for .250 Savage with the .257 | 100gr | 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.