Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .250 Savage with .257 | 120gr | Winchester Soft-Point bullet and 75 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 Ramshot Big Game.
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% | 46,180 psi | 87% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,601 psi | 88% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,165 psi | 85% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,572 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,179 psi | 85% | 2654 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,049 psi | 85% | 2575 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,267 psi | 87% | 2582 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,297 psi | 89% | 2589 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,934 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,905 psi | 89% | 2720 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,440 psi | 86% | 2602 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,035 psi | 87% | 2615 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,514 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,266 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,471 psi | 90% | 2638 fps | 98.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,252 psi | 85% | 2608 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,412 psi | 88% | 2530 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,730 psi | 86% | 2608 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,094 psi | 89% | 2690 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,325 psi | 88% | 2612 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,397 psi | 86% | 2589 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,801 psi | 83% | 2595 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,746 psi | 88% | 2664 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,027 psi | 66% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,833 psi | 88% | 2598 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,732 psi | 90% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,411 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,224 psi | 87% | 2651 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,137 psi | 89% | 2644 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,297 psi | 89% | 2589 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,614 psi | 86% | 2520 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,136 psi | 85% | 2562 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,355 psi | 89% | 2602 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,108 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,079 psi | 89% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,266 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,165 psi | 85% | 2648 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,034 psi | 85% | 2621 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Hunterᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,326 psi | 89% | 2687 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,355 psi | 89% | 2592 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,514 psi | 88% | 2612 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,230 psi | 67% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,326 psi | 89% | 2598 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,281 psi | 86% | 2667 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,107 psi | 85% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,802 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,658 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,513 psi | 86% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,326 psi | 89% | 2579 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,121 psi | 85% | 2602 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,355 psi | 89% | 2602 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,136 psi | 85% | 2562 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,818 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,600 psi | 86% | 2569 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,499 psi | 88% | 2602 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,137 psi | 87% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,542 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,484 psi | 86% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,252 psi | 85% | 2569 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,876 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,801 psi | 81% | 2648 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,267 psi | 87% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,456 psi | 88% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,485 psi | 90% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,963 psi | 89% | 2589 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,572 psi | 90% | 2648 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,747 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,992 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,296 psi | 87% | 2644 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,882 psi | 68% | 2520 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,165 psi | 85% | 2582 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,891 psi | 89% | 2631 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,963 psi | 87% | 2608 fps | 99.2% |
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% | 43,410 psi | 82% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,781 psi | 68% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,467 psi | 80% | 2526 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 64% | 2369 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,724 psi | 69% | 2490 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,943 psi | 75% | 2480 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,042 psi | 68% | 2382 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,959 psi | 79% | 2493 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,118 psi | 78% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,955 psi | 68% | 2484 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,141 psi | 63% | 2356 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 68% | 2415 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,478 psi | 71% | 2503 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 32.3 gr | 84% | 32,474 psi | 61% | 2411 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,682 psi | 73% | 2474 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 61% | 2352 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,743 psi | 83% | 2484 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,147 psi | 76% | 2510 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,932 psi | 83% | 2635 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,203 psi | 72% | 2457 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 76% | 2493 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,256 psi | 61% | 2352 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,071 psi | 68% | 2457 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,962 psi | 49% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,711 psi | 73% | 2448 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,305 psi | 74% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,520 psi | 67% | 2365 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,360 psi | 67% | 2444 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 69% | 2444 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,959 psi | 79% | 2493 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 73% | 2464 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 77% | 2428 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 67% | 2375 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,742 psi | 79% | 2500 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 74% | 2434 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 74% | 2451 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 66% | 2402 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,246 psi | 70% | 2490 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | 31.3 gr | 80% | 34,505 psi | 65% | 2408 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,208 psi | 84% | 2628 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,829 psi | 79% | 2490 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,959 psi | 77% | 2510 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,252 psi | 50% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,237 psi | 84% | 2546 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,753 psi | 69% | 2497 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 30.8 gr | 80% | 30,458 psi | 58% | 2369 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,972 psi | 74% | 2556 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,612 psi | 80% | 2625 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,859 psi | 81% | 2484 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,144 psi | 70% | 2392 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,371 psi | 57% | 2297 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,742 psi | 79% | 2500 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 73% | 2464 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 67% | 2375 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,823 psi | 64% | 2398 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 75% | 2461 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,247 psi | 72% | 2444 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,756 psi | 77% | 2405 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 63% | 2277 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,059 psi | 76% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 74% | 2461 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,531 psi | 60% | 2306 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,240 psi | 55% | 2336 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,944 psi | 77% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 69% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 70% | 2385 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 56% | 2251 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,564 psi | 69% | 2441 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 79% | 2487 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 67% | 2375 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,290 psi | 72% | 2497 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,736 psi | 64% | 2467 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,706 psi | 62% | 2326 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,741 psi | 77% | 2523 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 71% | 2451 fps | 97.7% |
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 75 powders for .250 Savage loaded with the .257 | 120gr | Winchester Soft-Point. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,720 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,631 fps to 2,720 fps. Alliant Reloder-16 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 75 of the 75 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 120.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17, Ramshot Big Game rank at the top here: for .250 Savage with the .257 | 120gr | Winchester Soft-Point 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.