Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .250 Savage with .257 | 88gr | Osprey Virtus bullet and 60 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>> | 92% | 47,442 psi | 90% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,788 psi | 86% | 2949 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,745 psi | 86% | 2986 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,557 psi | 88% | 3002 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,440 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,702 psi | 88% | 2864 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,137 psi | 89% | 2881 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,152 psi | 89% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,991 psi | 85% | 2959 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,760 psi | 88% | 2969 fps | 97% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,500 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,920 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,788 psi | 86% | 3005 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,947 psi | 85% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,455 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,411 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,340 psi | 88% | 2917 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,297 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,152 psi | 89% | 2999 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,701 psi | 84% | 2956 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,108 psi | 89% | 3015 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,324 psi | 86% | 3025 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,967 psi | 62% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,905 psi | 87% | 2966 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,863 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,238 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,863 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 96% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,760 psi | 88% | 2969 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,093 psi | 87% | 2963 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,600 psi | 86% | 2946 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,587 psi | 90% | 3031 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,064 psi | 87% | 2972 fps | 97% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,718 psi | 90% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,208 psi | 85% | 2943 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,411 psi | 86% | 2969 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,822 psi | 62% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,412 psi | 88% | 2966 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,092 psi | 83% | 3041 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,485 psi | 88% | 2956 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,832 psi | 87% | 2943 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,093 psi | 87% | 2963 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,587 psi | 90% | 3031 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,064 psi | 87% | 2972 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,659 psi | 88% | 2923 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,542 psi | 86% | 2963 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,021 psi | 87% | 2943 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,353 psi | 86% | 2874 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,384 psi | 90% | 2917 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,181 psi | 89% | 2999 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,905 psi | 89% | 2920 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,210 psi | 89% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,701 psi | 86% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,976 psi | 85% | 2877 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,688 psi | 88% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,861 psi | 87% | 2949 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,945 psi | 79% | 2881 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,804 psi | 88% | 2963 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,355 psi | 89% | 2989 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,063 psi | 85% | 3002 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,442 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 96.5% |
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% | 32,126 psi | 61% | 2635 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,461 psi | 65% | 2710 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,178 psi | 46% | 2470 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,867 psi | 66% | 2756 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,313 psi | 57% | 2667 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,234 psi | 78% | 2759 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,611 psi | 79% | 2769 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 83% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,131 psi | 74% | 2841 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,988 psi | 77% | 2854 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,457 psi | 56% | 2651 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,976 psi | 83% | 3009 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,931 psi | 81% | 2946 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 70% | 2762 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 75% | 2743 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,105 psi | 80% | 2943 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,638 psi | 73% | 2756 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 34.2 gr | 88% | 38,406 psi | 73% | 2854 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,621 psi | 67% | 2759 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,347 psi | 69% | 2776 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,222 psi | 84% | 2956 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,250 psi | 80% | 2959 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,120 psi | 46% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,728 psi | 81% | 2904 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | 28.2 gr | 80% | 28,224 psi | 53% | 2615 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,754 psi | 73% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,933 psi | 85% | 2999 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,988 psi | 77% | 2854 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,772 psi | 81% | 2900 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,985 psi | 70% | 2766 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,272 psi | 63% | 2730 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,625 psi | 77% | 2864 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,655 psi | 79% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,900 psi | 75% | 2831 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,692 psi | 62% | 2687 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,105 psi | 46% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 67% | 2726 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,305 psi | 72% | 2900 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,952 psi | 60% | 2628 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,393 psi | 76% | 2835 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,772 psi | 81% | 2900 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,272 psi | 63% | 2730 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,625 psi | 77% | 2864 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,410 psi | 82% | 2861 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,871 psi | 75% | 2848 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 71% | 2779 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,098 psi | 63% | 2608 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,442 psi | 54% | 2503 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,464 psi | 73% | 2822 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 57% | 2552 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,280 psi | 84% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 67% | 2674 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,864 psi | 58% | 2572 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,744 psi | 49% | 2507 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,995 psi | 59% | 2618 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,291 psi | 74% | 2825 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,770 psi | 77% | 2844 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,676 psi | 60% | 2651 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 32.8 gr | 86% | 36,666 psi | 69% | 2815 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,193 psi | 83% | 2959 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 60 powders for .250 Savage loaded with the .257 | 88gr | Osprey Virtus. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,077 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,873 fps to 3,077 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 60 of the 60 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (365 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 88.0 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, Bofors RP3 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 | 88gr | Osprey Virtus 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.