Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .280 Ackley Improved with .284 | 180gr | Berger BT Target bullet and 93 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Norma MRP, Vihtavuori N560 and Accurate MAGPRO.
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"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,724 psi | 87% | 2585 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,463 psi | 85% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,376 psi | 87% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,783 psi | 89% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,595 psi | 89% | 2782 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,014 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,407 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,970 psi | 86% | 2730 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,627 psi | 67% | 2516 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,479 psi | 59% | 2477 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,494 psi | 90% | 2723 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,494 psi | 90% | 2723 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,956 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,305 psi | 88% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,218 psi | 90% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,912 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,696 psi | 89% | 2717 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,347 psi | 85% | 2726 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,941 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,486 psi | 75% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,434 psi | 87% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 58,189 psi | 90% | 2690 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,230 psi | 83% | 2710 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,204 psi | 90% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,353 psi | 68% | 2582 fps | 97.1% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,347 psi | 85% | 2726 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,014 psi | 88% | 2625 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,993 psi | 74% | 2602 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,276 psi | 90% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,695 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,740 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,840 psi | 86% | 2671 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,755 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,581 psi | 90% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumboᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,413 psi | 73% | 2697 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,014 psi | 86% | 2717 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,767 psi | 57% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,622 psi | 86% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,667 psi | 89% | 2608 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,189 psi | 90% | 2657 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,784 psi | 90% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,899 psi | 89% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,813 psi | 90% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,406 psi | 88% | 2661 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 7828 SSCᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 2759 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,941 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,680 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,014 psi | 88% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,443 psi | 76% | 2556 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,623 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,680 psi | 86% | 2667 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,784 psi | 90% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,072 psi | 86% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,421 psi | 88% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grandᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,682 psi | 89% | 2779 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,523 psi | 90% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnumᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,590 psi | 79% | 2661 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,579 psi | 58% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,972 psi | 89% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,158 psi | 85% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,522 psi | 88% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,709 psi | 86% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,616 psi | 73% | 2697 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,856 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,378 psi | 90% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,086 psi | 86% | 2644 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,898 psi | 88% | 2700 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,014 psi | 88% | 2625 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,680 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,941 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,014 psi | 88% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,985 psi | 86% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,697 psi | 90% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,682 psi | 90% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,434 psi | 87% | 2697 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,914 psi | 89% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,841 psi | 89% | 2641 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,738 psi | 86% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,667 psi | 89% | 2680 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,436 psi | 90% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,479 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,811 psi | 86% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,218 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,884 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,391 psi | 87% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,130 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,552 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,784 psi | 90% | 2795 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N565ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,633 psi | 78% | 2661 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,682 psi | 89% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,985 psi | 86% | 2677 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,141 psi | 80% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,580 psi | 89% | 2674 fps | 99.4% |
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 2700 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,910 psi | 81% | 2530 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,385 psi | 47% | 2192 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,127 psi | 82% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,104 psi | 63% | 2425 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | 56 gr | 90% | 43,714 psi | 67% | 2552 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,501 psi | 76% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,927 psi | 57% | 2356 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,757 psi | 66% | 2503 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,814 psi | 63% | 2461 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,937 psi | 49% | 2313 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,231 psi | 57% | 2362 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,231 psi | 57% | 2362 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,343 psi | 77% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,737 psi | 83% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 61% | 2431 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,295 psi | 70% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,883 psi | 57% | 2356 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,202 psi | 57% | 2405 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 45% | 2221 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,225 psi | 45% | 2234 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,415 psi | 48% | 2333 fps | 97.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,839 psi | 84% | 2641 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,724 psi | 56% | 2395 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,039 psi | 79% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,972 psi | 60% | 2477 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,202 psi | 57% | 2405 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,498 psi | 68% | 2428 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,146 psi | 60% | 2431 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,140 psi | 79% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,844 psi | 66% | 2467 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,643 psi | 70% | 2480 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,873 psi | 66% | 2457 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,846 psi | 69% | 2497 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,362 psi | 57% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,680 psi | 56% | 2464 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,800 psi | 64% | 2487 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 42% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,083 psi | 80% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,404 psi | 84% | 2562 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,045 psi | 62% | 2365 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,832 psi | 71% | 2451 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 61% | 2379 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,129 psi | 85% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,945 psi | 65% | 2405 fps | 95% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,046 psi | 63% | 2484 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,460 psi | 81% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,555 psi | 67% | 2411 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 64% | 2398 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,892 psi | 46% | 2178 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,069 psi | 82% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,668 psi | 61% | 2395 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma MRP | 50.1 gr | 82% | 33,939 psi | 52% | 2359 fps | 96% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 63% | 2415 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,824 psi | 83% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,654 psi | 63% | 2490 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,363 psi | 61% | 2408 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,547 psi | 52% | 2320 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,181 psi | 43% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,082 psi | 79% | 2539 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,066 psi | 74% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,756 psi | 63% | 2441 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 61% | 2457 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,605 psi | 52% | 2388 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,230 psi | 83% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,153 psi | 74% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,843 psi | 63% | 2392 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,984 psi | 55% | 2339 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,498 psi | 68% | 2428 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,555 psi | 67% | 2411 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,460 psi | 81% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 64% | 2398 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,197 psi | 76% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,979 psi | 75% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,554 psi | 65% | 2359 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,650 psi | 55% | 2333 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,240 psi | 74% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,469 psi | 68% | 2434 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,159 psi | 57% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 53% | 2277 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,984 psi | 85% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,853 psi | 84% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,064 psi | 71% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,047 psi | 65% | 2411 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,027 psi | 55% | 2310 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,939 psi | 81% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,365 psi | 64% | 2415 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,735 psi | 50% | 2290 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | 53.7 gr | 88% | 41,887 psi | 64% | 2513 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,336 psi | 64% | 2497 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,017 psi | 63% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,062 psi | 66% | 2470 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,889 psi | 40% | 2215 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,781 psi | 55% | 2310 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 93 powders for .280 Ackley Improved loaded with the .284 | 180gr | Berger BT Target. Norma MRP delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,799 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,608 fps to 2,799 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 93 of the 93 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 180.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2225, Alliant Reloder-23 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. Norma MRP, Vihtavuori N560, Accurate MAGPRO rank at the top here: for .280 Ackley Improved with the .284 | 180gr | Berger BT Target 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.