Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .250 Savage with .257 | 115gr | Barnes X S bullet and 70 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 and ReloadSwiss RS 52.
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>> | 82% | 45,513 psi | 86% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,267 psi | 87% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,311 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,079 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,209 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,862 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,282 psi | 89% | 2602 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,122 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,411 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,049 psi | 85% | 2677 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,601 psi | 88% | 2625 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,587 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,035 psi | 87% | 2671 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,340 psi | 88% | 2710 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,469 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,934 psi | 89% | 2641 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,643 psi | 86% | 2520 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,413 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,527 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,107 psi | 85% | 2589 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,166 psi | 89% | 2621 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,467 psi | 80% | 2569 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,848 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,259 psi | 67% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,266 psi | 86% | 2575 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,006 psi | 87% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,210 psi | 89% | 2592 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,295 psi | 84% | 2621 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,861 psi | 87% | 2628 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,122 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,745 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,282 psi | 89% | 2549 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,876 psi | 89% | 2595 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,137 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,833 psi | 88% | 2635 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,992 psi | 87% | 2661 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,398 psi | 88% | 2648 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,324 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 97.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,021 psi | 89% | 2566 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,578 psi | 67% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,601 psi | 88% | 2697 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,383 psi | 88% | 2723 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,672 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,498 psi | 86% | 2530 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,746 psi | 88% | 2569 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,775 psi | 88% | 2631 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,745 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,876 psi | 89% | 2595 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,819 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,224 psi | 89% | 2592 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,904 psi | 85% | 2575 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,863 psi | 90% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,891 psi | 89% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,920 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,036 psi | 89% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,441 psi | 88% | 2589 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,369 psi | 89% | 2628 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,336 psi | 78% | 2618 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,674 psi | 90% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,136 psi | 85% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,585 psi | 86% | 2569 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,556 psi | 86% | 2615 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,238 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,311 psi | 89% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,340 psi | 89% | 2667 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,717 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,904 psi | 85% | 2605 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,181 psi | 89% | 2631 fps | 98.7% |
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% | 42,815 psi | 81% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 69% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,510 psi | 78% | 2513 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 65% | 2379 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,437 psi | 76% | 2569 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 74% | 2461 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,768 psi | 71% | 2418 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 77% | 2474 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 75% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,001 psi | 76% | 2572 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,793 psi | 62% | 2346 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,420 psi | 71% | 2448 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,205 psi | 78% | 2575 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 31.6 gr | 88% | 36,187 psi | 68% | 2493 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,379 psi | 76% | 2510 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,329 psi | 61% | 2346 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 81% | 2470 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 74% | 2490 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,453 psi | 80% | 2605 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,438 psi | 80% | 2539 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,363 psi | 74% | 2474 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,679 psi | 67% | 2425 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,476 psi | 67% | 2441 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,092 psi | 49% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,681 psi | 71% | 2425 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,174 psi | 72% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,289 psi | 70% | 2402 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,117 psi | 74% | 2520 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,926 psi | 68% | 2428 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 77% | 2474 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,927 psi | 72% | 2454 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,871 psi | 75% | 2411 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,259 psi | 67% | 2369 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,856 psi | 73% | 2428 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,624 psi | 73% | 2444 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,753 psi | 69% | 2438 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,046 psi | 78% | 2569 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,969 psi | 68% | 2438 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 75% | 2490 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 84% | 2516 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,455 psi | 50% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 29 gr | 82% | 38,290 psi | 72% | 2530 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 28.8 gr | 80% | 30,458 psi | 58% | 2352 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,931 psi | 81% | 2631 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,236 psi | 82% | 2487 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 70% | 2382 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,489 psi | 61% | 2343 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,927 psi | 72% | 2454 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,259 psi | 67% | 2369 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,347 psi | 71% | 2474 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,425 psi | 84% | 2543 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,550 psi | 71% | 2428 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,059 psi | 76% | 2392 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 63% | 2267 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,816 psi | 83% | 2549 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 75% | 2398 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 73% | 2441 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,576 psi | 63% | 2352 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,024 psi | 59% | 2372 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,929 psi | 75% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,665 psi | 67% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,361 psi | 69% | 2379 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 56% | 2244 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,873 psi | 81% | 2566 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,799 psi | 77% | 2467 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,099 psi | 66% | 2369 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,930 psi | 79% | 2569 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,434 psi | 69% | 2402 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,668 psi | 75% | 2510 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,651 psi | 69% | 2431 fps | 96.3% |
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 70 powders for .250 Savage loaded with the .257 | 115gr | Barnes X S. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,723 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,631 fps to 2,723 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 70 of the 70 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 115.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 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, Alliant Reloder-17, ReloadSwiss RS 52 rank at the top here: for .250 Savage with the .257 | 115gr | 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.