Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .250 Savage with .257 | 86gr | Remington SPRN bullet and 58 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Winchester 748 and Hodgdon BL-C2.
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>> | 90% | 45,310 psi | 86% | 2940 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,630 psi | 88% | 2989 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,934 psi | 89% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,224 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,441 psi | 88% | 3051 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,239 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,630 psi | 90% | 2913 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,471 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,585 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,326 psi | 89% | 3005 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,005 psi | 85% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,558 psi | 90% | 3104 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,267 psi | 87% | 3038 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,788 psi | 86% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,934 psi | 87% | 2890 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 3045 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,891 psi | 89% | 2953 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,848 psi | 90% | 3071 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,674 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,266 psi | 86% | 2992 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,659 psi | 90% | 3051 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,774 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,315 psi | 63% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,383 psi | 88% | 2999 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,426 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,326 psi | 89% | 3005 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,847 psi | 88% | 3005 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,441 psi | 88% | 2986 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,889 psi | 85% | 3009 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,746 psi | 88% | 3009 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,469 psi | 86% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 2982 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,050 psi | 87% | 3005 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,214 psi | 63% | 1942 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,963 psi | 89% | 3002 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,541 psi | 84% | 3074 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,514 psi | 90% | 2999 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,601 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,847 psi | 88% | 3005 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,889 psi | 85% | 3009 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,746 psi | 88% | 3009 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,224 psi | 89% | 2959 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,122 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,571 psi | 86% | 2913 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,006 psi | 87% | 2910 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,834 psi | 90% | 2949 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,805 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,587 psi | 90% | 2959 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,485 psi | 90% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,963 psi | 87% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,571 psi | 86% | 2913 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,297 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,398 psi | 88% | 2982 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,511 psi | 80% | 2917 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,384 psi | 90% | 2999 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,863 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,585 psi | 86% | 3035 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% | 33,083 psi | 62% | 2677 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 67% | 2753 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,469 psi | 48% | 2526 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,708 psi | 67% | 2799 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,473 psi | 59% | 2717 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,829 psi | 79% | 2799 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,163 psi | 80% | 2805 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 84% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 75% | 2881 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,597 psi | 79% | 2890 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,226 psi | 57% | 2694 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,643 psi | 84% | 3048 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,540 psi | 82% | 2982 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 72% | 2805 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,306 psi | 76% | 2779 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,178 psi | 82% | 2989 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,291 psi | 74% | 2792 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 34.4 gr | 88% | 39,030 psi | 74% | 2894 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 69% | 2799 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 70% | 2815 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,875 psi | 85% | 2992 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,772 psi | 81% | 2995 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,526 psi | 46% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,598 psi | 82% | 2946 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | 28.4 gr | 80% | 28,993 psi | 55% | 2657 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,001 psi | 74% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,597 psi | 79% | 2890 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,584 psi | 82% | 2940 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,884 psi | 72% | 2808 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,156 psi | 65% | 2772 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,307 psi | 78% | 2900 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,757 psi | 81% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,770 psi | 77% | 2874 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,460 psi | 63% | 2726 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,569 psi | 46% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,158 psi | 68% | 2766 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,175 psi | 74% | 2943 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 63% | 2674 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,220 psi | 78% | 2874 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,584 psi | 82% | 2940 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,156 psi | 65% | 2772 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,307 psi | 78% | 2900 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,005 psi | 83% | 2897 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 77% | 2887 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,618 psi | 60% | 2612 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,881 psi | 64% | 2648 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,167 psi | 55% | 2543 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,160 psi | 74% | 2858 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,009 psi | 59% | 2592 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 84% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 68% | 2713 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,618 psi | 60% | 2612 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,614 psi | 50% | 2549 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,705 psi | 60% | 2657 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,900 psi | 75% | 2861 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,437 psi | 78% | 2881 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,372 psi | 61% | 2687 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 33 gr | 86% | 37,318 psi | 70% | 2854 fps | 95% |
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 85 powders for .250 Savage loaded with the .257 | 86gr | Remington SPRN. ReloadSwiss RS 52 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,110 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,900 fps to 3,110 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 85 of the 85 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 63–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 86.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4064, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5, Alliant Reloder-17 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. IMR 3031, Winchester 748, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .250 Savage with the .257 | 86gr | Remington SPRN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, ADI AR 2208 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.