Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Federal with .338 | 185gr | Barnes MRX BT bullet and 50 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Shooters World AR Plus, Lovex D073.4 and ADI AR 2219.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,026 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,730 psi | 74% | 2444 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2460ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,096 psi | 83% | 2539 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,489 psi | 54% | 2313 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,279 psi | 72% | 2480 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,316 psi | 89% | 2474 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,925 psi | 90% | 2480 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,315 psi | 87% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,895 psi | 86% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,085 psi | 90% | 2612 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,582 psi | 69% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,215 psi | 90% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,532 psi | 86% | 2470 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmarkᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,472 psi | 81% | 2461 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE BLK | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,302 psi | 90% | 2536 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H322ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,982 psi | 86% | 2582 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,084 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,228 psi | 87% | 2474 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,111 psi | 52% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,320 psi | 65% | 2444 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,360 psi | 90% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,533 psi | 87% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,431 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,503 psi | 86% | 2562 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D073.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,198 psi | 83% | 2539 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,838 psi | 89% | 2431 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,205 psi | 67% | 2411 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,893 psi | 51% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,025 psi | 86% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,445 psi | 85% | 2556 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,063 psi | 73% | 2441 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,503 psi | 86% | 2562 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,431 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,592 psi | 89% | 2457 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,156 psi | 88% | 2526 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,404 psi | 90% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,952 psi | 85% | 2569 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,650 psi | 89% | 2569 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,367 psi | 74% | 2382 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,375 psi | 59% | 2241 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S321ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,428 psi | 80% | 2536 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,192 psi | 70% | 2375 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,127 psi | 88% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,069 psi | 87% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,067 psi | 83% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,352 psi | 72% | 2388 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,404 psi | 59% | 2336 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,363 psi | 64% | 2349 fps | 96.3% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,971 psi | 63% | 2251 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,006 psi | 45% | 2103 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,739 psi | 63% | 2346 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 26,353 psi | 44% | 2175 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,190 psi | 67% | 2428 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,764 psi | 54% | 2133 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,972 psi | 66% | 2267 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,139 psi | 82% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,736 psi | 56% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 35.6 gr | 84% | 33,924 psi | 56% | 2277 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 23,525 psi | 39% | 2057 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 46% | 2133 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,273 psi | 59% | 2231 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 51% | 2116 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,629 psi | 76% | 2418 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE BLK | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,633 psi | 84% | 2484 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,880 psi | 55% | 2251 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,029 psi | 63% | 2365 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,201 psi | 60% | 2211 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,931 psi | 38% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,835 psi | 51% | 2260 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,342 psi | 50% | 2136 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,191 psi | 68% | 2283 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,705 psi | 83% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | 37.8 gr | 86% | 38,638 psi | 64% | 2359 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,758 psi | 73% | 2444 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,248 psi | 67% | 2251 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,241 psi | 52% | 2198 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,157 psi | 58% | 2316 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,626 psi | 38% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 67% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,726 psi | 66% | 2369 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,579 psi | 61% | 2306 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 37.8 gr | 86% | 38,638 psi | 64% | 2359 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,705 psi | 83% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,980 psi | 83% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,893 psi | 83% | 2480 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 62% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,289 psi | 60% | 2326 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,574 psi | 51% | 2172 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,811 psi | 61% | 2254 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,228 psi | 55% | 2198 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,411 psi | 75% | 2490 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,025 psi | 55% | 2208 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,297 psi | 79% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,953 psi | 56% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,963 psi | 45% | 2057 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,398 psi | 47% | 2096 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,659 psi | 46% | 2162 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,013 psi | 60% | 2303 fps | 95.5% |
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 77 powders for .338 Federal loaded with the .338 | 185gr | Barnes MRX BT. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,628 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,476 fps to 2,628 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 77 of the 77 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (415 MPa), the top charges use 50–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 185.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:13.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2460, Accurate 2495 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. Shooters World AR Plus, Lovex D073.4, ADI AR 2219 rank at the top here: for .338 Federal with the .338 | 185gr | Barnes MRX BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, Accurate 4064 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.