Load data for .255 GS + .257 | 100gr | Barnes XLC BT

.255 GS cartridge drawing
Barnes logo

Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Barnes
Bullet Weight:100 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.257"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):2.165"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:62 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle (LR)
Barrel Length:24"
Max. allowed Pressure:63,817 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:10.0

Load data in caliber .255 GS with .257 | 100gr | Barnes XLC BT bullet and 94 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-16, ReloadSwiss RS 70 and Hodgdon Superformance.

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.

A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.

You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?

Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 2495<<locked>>84%56,304 psi88%3051 fps100%
Accurate 2700<<locked>>86%56,362 psi88%3081 fps97.1%
Accurate 3100ᴾ<<locked>>100%49,821 psi78%3054 fps97.6%
Accurate 4064<<locked>>86%56,173 psi88%3104 fps100%
Accurate 4350<<locked>>94%55,550 psi87%3186 fps99.6%
ADI AR 2206H<<locked>>84%57,667 psi90%3169 fps100%
ADI AR 2208<<locked>>88%55,376 psi87%3114 fps99.8%
ADI AR 2209ᴾ<<locked>>100%55,999 psi88%3199 fps96.1%
ADI Benchmark 8208<<locked>>82%56,405 psi88%3114 fps100%
Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR<<locked>>86%57,711 psi90%3297 fps99.9%
Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5<<locked>>88%56,173 psi88%3146 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-15<<locked>>86%56,449 psi88%3166 fps99.9%
Alliant Reloder-16<<locked>>96%55,332 psi87%3232 fps99.8%
Alliant Reloder-17<<locked>>92%56,898 psi89%3271 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-19ᴾ<<locked>>100%55,143 psi86%3189 fps96.2%
Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ<<locked>>100%46,456 psi73%3077 fps99.7%
Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ<<locked>>100%52,576 psi82%3268 fps99.4%
Baschieri & Pellagri 107<<locked>>84%57,392 psi90%3179 fps99.8%
Bofors RP3<<locked>>88%57,246 psi90%3166 fps100%
Bofors RP7<<locked>>92%56,463 psi88%3127 fps97.4%
Hodgdon Benchmark<<locked>>82%57,537 psi90%3091 fps100%
Hodgdon BL-C2<<locked>>82%56,652 psi89%3150 fps100%
Hodgdon H380<<locked>>88%57,537 psi90%3173 fps99.5%
Hodgdon H414<<locked>>94%57,450 psi90%3232 fps98.2%
Hodgdon H4350<<locked>>92%57,363 psi90%3182 fps96.9%
Hodgdon H4895<<locked>>82%54,984 psi86%3127 fps100%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V<<locked>>98%55,767 psi87%3156 fps100%
Hodgdon LEVERevolution<<locked>>84%54,708 psi86%3159 fps100%
Hodgdon Superformance<<locked>>92%53,998 psi85%3199 fps97.2%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%36,332 psi57%1972 fps100%
Hodgdon VARGET<<locked>>84%55,724 psi87%3123 fps100%
IMR 3031<<locked>>82%55,114 psi86%3107 fps100%
IMR 4064<<locked>>86%54,636 psi86%3094 fps99.8%
IMR 4166 Enduron<<locked>>86%57,595 psi90%3127 fps98.1%
IMR 4350<<locked>>96%56,782 psi89%3153 fps97.5%
IMR 4451 Enduron<<locked>>92%57,711 psi90%3153 fps98%
IMR 4831<<locked>>96%55,622 psi87%3169 fps99.6%
IMR 4895<<locked>>84%54,244 psi85%3140 fps99.9%
IMR 8208 XBR<<locked>>82%56,405 psi88%3114 fps100%
Lovex D073.6<<locked>>82%55,013 psi86%3097 fps100%
Lovex S060<<locked>>84%56,376 psi88%3084 fps100%
Lovex S062<<locked>>86%55,158 psi86%3097 fps100%
Lovex S065<<locked>>92%54,636 psi86%3097 fps98.7%
Lovex S070<<locked>>94%55,883 psi88%3140 fps98%
Norma 201<<locked>>84%57,029 psi89%3117 fps100%
Norma 202<<locked>>84%57,188 psi90%3114 fps100%
Norma 203B<<locked>>86%55,767 psi87%3153 fps99.9%
Norma 204<<locked>>96%57,580 psi90%3205 fps96.4%
Norma MRPᴾ<<locked>>100%51,967 psi81%3215 fps97.1%
Norma URP<<locked>>96%57,363 psi90%3219 fps99.7%
Ramshot Big Game<<locked>>86%56,072 psi88%3173 fps99.9%
Ramshot Hunter<<locked>>96%56,188 psi88%3212 fps98.7%
Ramshot TAC<<locked>>82%56,492 psi89%3127 fps99%
Ramshot Wild Boar<<locked>>82%56,521 psi89%3150 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%36,883 psi58%2014 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 50<<locked>>88%57,232 psi90%3146 fps98.5%
ReloadSwiss RS 52<<locked>>84%56,768 psi89%3235 fps99.9%
ReloadSwiss RS 60<<locked>>90%56,449 psi88%3271 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62<<locked>>94%54,737 psi86%3199 fps99.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 70<<locked>>96%57,246 psi90%3284 fps99.6%
Rottweil R 902<<locked>>86%57,667 psi90%3117 fps100%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>90%57,043 psi89%3156 fps100%
Rottweil R 905ᴾ<<locked>>100%54,244 psi85%3173 fps96.1%
Rottweil R 907<<locked>>92%56,463 psi88%3127 fps97.4%
Shooters World Long Rifle<<locked>>92%54,636 psi86%3097 fps98.7%
Shooters World Match Rifle<<locked>>82%55,013 psi86%3097 fps100%
Shooters World Precision<<locked>>86%55,158 psi86%3097 fps100%
Shooters World SW4350<<locked>>94%55,883 psi88%3140 fps98%
SNPE Vectan SP 11<<locked>>88%54,665 psi86%3156 fps99.9%
SNPE Vectan SP 7<<locked>>82%55,680 psi87%3114 fps99.2%
SNPE Vectan SP 9<<locked>>84%55,927 psi88%3133 fps99.9%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000<<locked>>84%57,305 psi90%3038 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>88%54,636 psi86%2989 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000<<locked>>92%54,694 psi86%3048 fps97.6%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000ᴾ<<locked>>100%53,737 psi84%3166 fps96%
Somchem S335<<locked>>84%57,421 psi90%3041 fps100%
Somchem S341<<locked>>82%54,897 psi86%3097 fps99.9%
Somchem S355<<locked>>90%56,884 psi89%3150 fps100%
Somchem S365<<locked>>98%56,014 psi88%3225 fps100%
Somchem S385ᴾ<<locked>>100%55,506 psi87%3156 fps97.2%
Vihtavuori N133<<locked>>84%57,508 psi90%3018 fps100%
Vihtavuori N135<<locked>>86%57,217 psi90%3071 fps100%
Vihtavuori N140<<locked>>86%57,740 psi90%3087 fps100%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>90%54,679 psi86%3071 fps100%
Vihtavuori N160<<locked>>94%56,086 psi88%3156 fps99.5%
Vihtavuori N530<<locked>>82%56,753 psi89%3110 fps100%
Vihtavuori N540<<locked>>86%55,869 psi88%3081 fps100%
Vihtavuori N550<<locked>>94%55,535 psi87%3166 fps99.4%
Vihtavuori N555ᴾ<<locked>>100%51,880 psi81%3166 fps99.6%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL<<locked>>94%55,782 psi87%3123 fps100%
Winchester 748<<locked>>82%57,348 psi90%3166 fps100%
Winchester 760<<locked>>94%57,450 psi90%3232 fps98.2%
Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ<<locked>>100%42,163 psi66%3110 fps99.9%
Winchester StaBALL Match<<locked>>84%56,246 psi88%3146 fps100%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 2495<<locked>>80%49,632 psi78%2953 fps100%
Accurate 2700<<locked>>82%49,647 psi78%2963 fps95.7%
Accurate 3100<<locked>>94%41,089 psi64%2881 fps95.4%
Accurate 4064<<locked>>80%46,905 psi74%2949 fps100%
Accurate 4350<<locked>>80%35,288 psi55%2766 fps95.3%
ADI AR 2206H<<locked>>80%51,039 psi80%3054 fps99.7%
ADI AR 2208<<locked>>80%43,497 psi68%2890 fps98.3%
ADI AR 2209<<locked>>98%52,692 psi83%3143 fps95.4%
ADI Benchmark 8208<<locked>>80%52,924 psi83%3058 fps100%
Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR<<locked>>80%47,297 psi74%3107 fps99%
Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5<<locked>>80%44,092 psi69%2927 fps99.4%
Alliant Reloder-15<<locked>>80%46,847 psi73%2992 fps99%
Alliant Reloder-1640.5 gr80%34,534 psi54%2769 fps95.1%
Alliant Reloder-17<<locked>>80%38,551 psi60%2904 fps98.3%
Alliant Reloder-19<<locked>>98%51,953 psi81%3133 fps95.4%
Alliant Reloder-23<<locked>>86%30,821 psi48%2680 fps95.2%
Alliant Reloder-26<<locked>>90%37,492 psi59%2927 fps95.5%
Baschieri & Pellagri 107<<locked>>80%50,560 psi79%3061 fps99.1%
Bofors RP3<<locked>>80%44,512 psi70%2940 fps99.5%
Bofors RP7<<locked>>86%47,123 psi74%2953 fps95.3%
Hodgdon Benchmark<<locked>>80%54,375 psi85%3038 fps100%
Hodgdon BL-C2<<locked>>80%53,098 psi83%3094 fps100%
Hodgdon H380<<locked>>80%44,657 psi70%2933 fps97.6%
Hodgdon H414<<locked>>86%44,454 psi70%2982 fps95.3%
Hodgdon H4350<<locked>>88%50,778 psi80%3064 fps95.5%
Hodgdon H4895<<locked>>80%51,605 psi81%3068 fps99.9%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V<<locked>>80%32,140 psi50%2664 fps96.1%
Hodgdon LEVERevolution<<locked>>80%48,022 psi75%3041 fps99.8%
Hodgdon Superformance50.7 gr88%47,108 psi74%3064 fps95.5%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%27,238 psi43%1765 fps100%
Hodgdon VARGET<<locked>>80%49,269 psi77%3012 fps99.7%
IMR 3031<<locked>>80%51,793 psi81%3058 fps100%
IMR 4064<<locked>>80%45,730 psi72%2930 fps98.9%
IMR 4166 Enduron<<locked>>80%47,877 psi75%2946 fps96.1%
IMR 4350<<locked>>90%47,442 psi74%2982 fps95.4%
IMR 4451 Enduron<<locked>>84%45,629 psi72%2927 fps95.4%
IMR 4831<<locked>>82%36,158 psi57%2776 fps95.8%
IMR 4895<<locked>>80%47,964 psi75%3025 fps99.4%
IMR 8208 XBR<<locked>>80%52,924 psi83%3058 fps100%
Lovex D073.6<<locked>>80%51,517 psi81%3041 fps100%
Lovex S060<<locked>>80%50,241 psi79%2979 fps99.7%
Lovex S062<<locked>>80%46,282 psi73%2940 fps99.8%
Lovex S065<<locked>>82%41,002 psi64%2828 fps95.7%
Lovex S070<<locked>>86%44,150 psi69%2917 fps95.4%
Norma 201<<locked>>80%50,502 psi79%3005 fps100%
Norma 202<<locked>>80%50,850 psi80%3009 fps100%
Norma 203B<<locked>>80%46,253 psi72%2979 fps99.2%
Norma 204<<locked>>94%53,795 psi84%3140 fps95.6%
Norma MRP<<locked>>96%45,571 psi71%3084 fps95.4%
Norma URP<<locked>>80%34,940 psi55%2759 fps95%
Ramshot Big Game<<locked>>80%46,180 psi72%2995 fps99.1%
Ramshot Hunter<<locked>>86%40,915 psi64%2913 fps95.2%
Ramshot TAC<<locked>>80%53,084 psi83%3071 fps98.6%
Ramshot Wild Boar<<locked>>80%53,069 psi83%3094 fps99.8%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%27,804 psi44%1808 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 50<<locked>>80%44,672 psi70%2910 fps96%
ReloadSwiss RS 52<<locked>>80%49,922 psi78%3114 fps99.3%
ReloadSwiss RS 60<<locked>>80%40,785 psi64%2972 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62<<locked>>82%36,970 psi58%2835 fps95.6%
ReloadSwiss RS 7046.5 gr84%38,827 psi61%2900 fps95.5%
Rottweil R 902<<locked>>80%48,414 psi76%2959 fps99.9%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>80%42,032 psi66%2881 fps99%
Rottweil R 905<<locked>>98%51,053 psi80%3114 fps95.4%
Rottweil R 907<<locked>>86%47,123 psi74%2953 fps95.3%
Shooters World Long Rifle<<locked>>82%41,002 psi64%2828 fps95.7%
Shooters World Match Rifle<<locked>>80%51,517 psi81%3041 fps100%
Shooters World Precision<<locked>>80%46,282 psi73%2940 fps99.8%
Shooters World SW4350<<locked>>86%44,150 psi69%2917 fps95.4%
SNPE Vectan SP 11<<locked>>80%42,351 psi66%2923 fps98.5%
SNPE Vectan SP 7<<locked>>80%52,214 psi82%3054 fps98.8%
SNPE Vectan SP 9<<locked>>80%49,559 psi78%3022 fps99.6%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000<<locked>>80%51,126 psi80%2943 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>80%43,192 psi68%2799 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000<<locked>>86%45,571 psi71%2881 fps95.6%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000<<locked>>98%50,560 psi79%3107 fps95.2%
Somchem S335<<locked>>80%50,966 psi80%2943 fps100%
Somchem S341<<locked>>80%51,503 psi81%3038 fps99.7%
Somchem S355<<locked>>80%42,221 psi66%2877 fps98.9%
Somchem S365<<locked>>80%31,691 psi50%2713 fps97.5%
Somchem S385<<locked>>96%48,950 psi77%3041 fps95.8%
Vihtavuori N133<<locked>>80%51,416 psi81%2930 fps100%
Vihtavuori N135<<locked>>80%48,022 psi75%2930 fps100%
Vihtavuori N140<<locked>>80%48,153 psi75%2936 fps100%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>80%40,321 psi63%2805 fps99.4%
Vihtavuori N160<<locked>>80%36,100 psi57%2753 fps95.4%
Vihtavuori N530<<locked>>80%53,461 psi84%3058 fps100%
Vihtavuori N540<<locked>>80%46,470 psi73%2923 fps100%
Vihtavuori N550<<locked>>80%35,839 psi56%2759 fps95.1%
Vihtavuori N555<<locked>>86%33,663 psi53%2769 fps95.4%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL<<locked>>80%35,650 psi56%2726 fps97.7%
Winchester 748<<locked>>80%53,722 psi84%3110 fps100%
Winchester 760<<locked>>86%44,701 psi70%2989 fps95.4%
Winchester StaBALL HD<<locked>>90%31,198 psi49%2776 fps96.1%
Winchester StaBALL Match<<locked>>80%49,458 psi78%3028 fps99.8%

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.

<<locked>> you need an access license to unlock this data.

This overview compares 113 powders for .255 GS loaded with the .257 | 100gr | Barnes XLC BT. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,297 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,972 fps to 3,297 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 113 of the 113 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.

Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, 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. Accurate 3100, Accurate MAGPRO, ADI AR 2209 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. Alliant Reloder-16, ReloadSwiss RS 70, Hodgdon Superformance rank at the top here: for .255 GS with the .257 | 100gr | Barnes XLC BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate MAGPRO, ADI AR 2213, Alliant Reloder-22 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.

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