Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .33 Win. with .338 | 185gr | Barnes X BT bullet and 27 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant AR-Comp, Accurate 4064 and IMR 3031.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,319 psi | 87% | 2362 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,914 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,986 psi | 88% | 2444 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,624 psi | 87% | 2431 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,566 psi | 87% | 2454 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,436 psi | 89% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,928 psi | 88% | 2385 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,276 psi | 89% | 2421 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,740 psi | 90% | 2434 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,301 psi | 75% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,784 psi | 90% | 2493 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,929 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,204 psi | 89% | 2454 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,464 psi | 87% | 2411 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,692 psi | 76% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,233 psi | 89% | 2398 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,943 psi | 88% | 2372 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,204 psi | 89% | 2454 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,827 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,015 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,581 psi | 89% | 2362 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,101 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,189 psi | 89% | 2339 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,406 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,798 psi | 88% | 2431 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,479 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,436 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 97.1% |
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% | 32,460 psi | 73% | 2238 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,577 psi | 78% | 2303 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,846 psi | 58% | 2142 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,216 psi | 82% | 2382 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | 40.2 gr | 88% | 30,618 psi | 69% | 2280 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 36.2 gr | 80% | 29,544 psi | 67% | 2251 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,738 psi | 83% | 2343 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 79% | 2329 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,099 psi | 79% | 2339 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,932 psi | 56% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 36.1 gr | 80% | 28,282 psi | 64% | 2218 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,608 psi | 85% | 2316 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,621 psi | 78% | 2362 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,213 psi | 73% | 2274 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,903 psi | 56% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,043 psi | 84% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,127 psi | 75% | 2244 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,621 psi | 78% | 2362 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,825 psi | 83% | 2336 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,822 psi | 74% | 2201 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,008 psi | 68% | 2159 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 69% | 2172 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,215 psi | 80% | 2260 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,734 psi | 69% | 2175 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,310 psi | 59% | 2136 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,532 psi | 74% | 2264 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,112 psi | 75% | 2290 fps | 95.1% |
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 27 powders for .33 Win. loaded with the .338 | 185gr | Barnes X BT. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,493 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,549 fps to 2,493 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 27 of the 27 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (305 MPa), the top charges use 75–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 185.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:15.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 AR-Comp, Accurate 4064, IMR 3031 rank at the top here: for .33 Win. with the .338 | 185gr | Barnes X BT 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.