Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .250 Savage with .257 | 100gr | Barnes XLC BT bullet and 67 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>> | 86% | 47,761 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,267 psi | 87% | 2749 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,585 psi | 86% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,962 psi | 85% | 2782 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,266 psi | 86% | 2789 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,557 psi | 88% | 2799 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,949 psi | 89% | 2782 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,759 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,239 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,528 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,877 psi | 90% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,847 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,934 psi | 89% | 2825 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,890 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 97% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,166 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,614 psi | 86% | 2707 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,978 psi | 89% | 2831 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,904 psi | 85% | 2841 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,108 psi | 87% | 2776 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,731 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,934 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,340 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,476 psi | 65% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,892 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,208 psi | 85% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,601 psi | 88% | 2769 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,237 psi | 85% | 2808 fps | 96.7% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,759 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,716 psi | 86% | 2746 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,747 psi | 90% | 2828 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,152 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,383 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,093 psi | 87% | 2759 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,440 psi | 86% | 2766 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,195 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 96.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,761 psi | 90% | 2828 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2749 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,056 psi | 66% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,629 psi | 86% | 2753 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,687 psi | 86% | 2871 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,718 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,195 psi | 87% | 2749 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2805 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,747 psi | 90% | 2828 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,383 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,108 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,877 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,456 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,485 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,760 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,427 psi | 88% | 2789 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,108 psi | 89% | 2720 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,093 psi | 87% | 2772 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,920 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,203 psi | 72% | 2723 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,703 psi | 90% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,094 psi | 89% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,282 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,658 psi | 86% | 2746 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,514 psi | 90% | 2792 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,195 psi | 87% | 2756 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,079 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,586 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,427 psi | 90% | 2848 fps | 99% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,702 psi | 88% | 2815 fps | 97.5% |
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% | 39,929 psi | 75% | 2602 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,221 psi | 82% | 2694 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,736 psi | 64% | 2526 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 70% | 2618 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,836 psi | 60% | 2497 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,220 psi | 78% | 2687 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,309 psi | 84% | 2730 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,406 psi | 73% | 2605 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,043 psi | 70% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,743 psi | 83% | 2795 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,223 psi | 85% | 2861 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,129 psi | 68% | 2605 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,756 psi | 79% | 2723 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,596 psi | 77% | 2769 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | 31.1 gr | 86% | 36,071 psi | 68% | 2612 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 77% | 2612 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,535 psi | 69% | 2618 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,337 psi | 80% | 2789 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,352 psi | 82% | 2723 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 83% | 2743 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,073 psi | 74% | 2651 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 31.4 gr | 84% | 37,347 psi | 71% | 2661 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,773 psi | 49% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,769 psi | 75% | 2651 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,273 psi | 67% | 2612 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,874 psi | 83% | 2717 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,943 psi | 75% | 2697 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,406 psi | 73% | 2605 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,178 psi | 82% | 2697 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,128 psi | 66% | 2575 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,668 psi | 75% | 2582 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,722 psi | 66% | 2533 fps | 95% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,550 psi | 69% | 2556 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,868 psi | 68% | 2569 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,060 psi | 78% | 2713 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,149 psi | 82% | 2769 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,221 psi | 80% | 2720 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,481 psi | 78% | 2644 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,034 psi | 49% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,033 psi | 81% | 2700 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,018 psi | 81% | 2815 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 32.2 gr | 86% | 33,895 psi | 64% | 2612 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 77% | 2625 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,896 psi | 66% | 2510 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,130 psi | 72% | 2651 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,128 psi | 66% | 2575 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,722 psi | 66% | 2533 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,989 psi | 79% | 2753 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 85% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,959 psi | 79% | 2703 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 71% | 2526 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,937 psi | 58% | 2388 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 78% | 2684 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 71% | 2536 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,654 psi | 77% | 2664 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,378 psi | 74% | 2661 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,143 psi | 68% | 2671 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,366 psi | 80% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 71% | 2530 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,996 psi | 62% | 2507 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,968 psi | 64% | 2503 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,199 psi | 63% | 2500 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 72% | 2595 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,735 psi | 62% | 2487 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,915 psi | 77% | 2661 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,782 psi | 69% | 2628 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,870 psi | 73% | 2657 fps | 95.5% |
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 67 powders for .250 Savage loaded with the .257 | 100gr | Barnes XLC BT. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,917 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,755 fps to 2,917 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 65–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 100.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:10.0 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 XLC BT 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.