Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .257 Weath. Mag. with .257 | 117gr | Rhino Solid Shank bullet and 68 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Vihtavuori N560.
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: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,071 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,680 psi | 87% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,682 psi | 90% | 3284 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,507 psi | 89% | 3209 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,679 psi | 86% | 3215 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3245 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,256 psi | 80% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,768 psi | 89% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,217 psi | 88% | 3196 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,085 psi | 86% | 3215 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,652 psi | 89% | 3176 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,521 psi | 89% | 3248 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,479 psi | 90% | 3274 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,114 psi | 85% | 3264 fps | 96.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,825 psi | 87% | 3173 fps | 97.3% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,302 psi | 85% | 3199 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,347 psi | 88% | 3258 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,085 psi | 86% | 3215 fps | 99.8% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,014 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,404 psi | 85% | 3205 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,014 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,302 psi | 85% | 3150 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,927 psi | 89% | 3192 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,043 psi | 89% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,303 psi | 87% | 3337 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,492 psi | 59% | 2031 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,579 psi | 87% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,898 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,853 psi | 86% | 3127 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,695 psi | 89% | 3261 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,862 psi | 73% | 3104 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,360 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,840 psi | 89% | 3189 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,311 psi | 74% | 3130 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,056 psi | 86% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,667 psi | 90% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,635 psi | 84% | 3215 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,652 psi | 89% | 3189 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,507 psi | 89% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,276 psi | 60% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,854 psi | 88% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,273 psi | 85% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,709 psi | 87% | 3281 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,421 psi | 90% | 3176 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,840 psi | 88% | 3186 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,014 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,360 psi | 85% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,419 psi | 87% | 3182 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,390 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,013 psi | 86% | 3123 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,362 psi | 88% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,521 psi | 87% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,999 psi | 88% | 3133 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,882 psi | 86% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,187 psi | 86% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,665 psi | 86% | 3228 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,274 psi | 87% | 3219 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,347 psi | 88% | 3284 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N570ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,348 psi | 90% | 3346 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,143 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,290 psi | 90% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,941 psi | 88% | 3271 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,260 psi | 88% | 3153 fps | 99.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,305 psi | 62% | 2818 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,054 psi | 82% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,511 psi | 68% | 3005 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 68% | 2956 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,653 psi | 61% | 2877 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,681 psi | 59% | 2848 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,052 psi | 47% | 2677 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,690 psi | 78% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 68% | 2949 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 61% | 2890 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 60% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,764 psi | 51% | 2756 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,525 psi | 67% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,241 psi | 79% | 3192 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,226 psi | 77% | 3048 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 57% | 2822 fps | 96% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,362 psi | 59% | 2867 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,175 psi | 61% | 2890 fps | 97.1% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,534 psi | 84% | 3077 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,853 psi | 56% | 2805 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,490 psi | 84% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,278 psi | 65% | 2887 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 63% | 2867 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,746 psi | 73% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 58.6 gr | 82% | 34,171 psi | 54% | 2844 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,123 psi | 44% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,023 psi | 77% | 3012 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,139 psi | 77% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 67% | 2887 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 58% | 2854 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,087 psi | 60% | 2907 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,620 psi | 82% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,010 psi | 80% | 3045 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 53% | 2684 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,429 psi | 77% | 3058 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,140 psi | 49% | 2736 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 65% | 2969 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,647 psi | 79% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 58% | 2864 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,429 psi | 77% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,156 psi | 52% | 2730 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 45% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,098 psi | 82% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,488 psi | 79% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 61.2 gr | 80% | 31,067 psi | 49% | 2740 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,857 psi | 64% | 2982 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,367 psi | 70% | 2930 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,815 psi | 67% | 2936 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,534 psi | 84% | 3077 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,620 psi | 82% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,010 psi | 80% | 3045 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,387 psi | 81% | 2995 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,482 psi | 67% | 2933 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,194 psi | 71% | 2917 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,124 psi | 75% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,207 psi | 68% | 2913 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,040 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 59% | 2776 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,300 psi | 80% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,380 psi | 66% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 59.4 gr | 80% | 41,365 psi | 65% | 2959 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,247 psi | 62% | 2887 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,134 psi | 66% | 2999 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,516 psi | 78% | 3199 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,285 psi | 80% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,490 psi | 84% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,911 psi | 55% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 62% | 2835 fps | 97.2% |
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 74 powders for .257 Weath. Mag. loaded with the .257 | 117gr | Rhino Solid Shank. Vihtavuori N570 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,346 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,031 fps to 3,346 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 74 of the 74 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 117.0 gr projectile in 0.257" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2218, ADI AR 2225 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. Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Vihtavuori N560 rank at the top here: for .257 Weath. Mag. with the .257 | 117gr | Rhino Solid Shank they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Reloder-50, IMR 7977 Enduron, Lovex D100 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.