Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Federal with .338 | 206gr | Peregrine VLR-5 bullet and 56 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 SNPE Vectan SP 10.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,533 psi | 87% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,095 psi | 80% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,693 psi | 89% | 2441 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,766 psi | 59% | 2238 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,688 psi | 78% | 2388 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,388 psi | 55% | 2205 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,708 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,301 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,027 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,688 psi | 79% | 2359 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,411 psi | 74% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,040 psi | 86% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,809 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,273 psi | 90% | 2362 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmarkᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,271 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,382 psi | 74% | 2372 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,808 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,040 psi | 88% | 2457 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,866 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,734 psi | 53% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,293 psi | 70% | 2359 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,230 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,388 psi | 87% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,688 psi | 79% | 2359 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,634 psi | 86% | 2418 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D073.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,896 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,727 psi | 68% | 2313 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,388 psi | 89% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,170 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,323 psi | 72% | 2300 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,033 psi | 71% | 2320 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminatorᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 89% | 2411 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,314 psi | 52% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,648 psi | 86% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,459 psi | 85% | 2411 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 78% | 2343 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,634 psi | 86% | 2418 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,727 psi | 68% | 2313 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,736 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,346 psi | 90% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,027 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,592 psi | 89% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,268 psi | 79% | 2287 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,681 psi | 63% | 2159 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem S321ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,735 psi | 86% | 2441 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,237 psi | 75% | 2287 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,765 psi | 88% | 2185 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,417 psi | 87% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,287 psi | 89% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,311 psi | 77% | 2290 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,116 psi | 63% | 2251 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,886 psi | 68% | 2260 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,080 psi | 80% | 2359 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,320 psi | 65% | 2254 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,209 psi | 77% | 2392 fps | 97.2% |
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% | 40,393 psi | 67% | 2156 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,425 psi | 42% | 1939 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,156 psi | 55% | 2129 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 23,569 psi | 39% | 1978 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,983 psi | 58% | 2201 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,153 psi | 48% | 2119 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,548 psi | 57% | 2047 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,954 psi | 58% | 2047 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,868 psi | 60% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,488 psi | 52% | 2096 fps | 96% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,018 psi | 70% | 2270 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,540 psi | 39% | 1946 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 50% | 2047 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 62% | 2133 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,518 psi | 54% | 2034 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,335 psi | 67% | 2201 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,725 psi | 64% | 2280 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,719 psi | 51% | 2080 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,938 psi | 55% | 2133 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,203 psi | 63% | 2119 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,206 psi | 39% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 27,209 psi | 45% | 2051 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 53% | 2047 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,627 psi | 72% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,018 psi | 70% | 2270 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | 34.9 gr | 82% | 35,926 psi | 60% | 2178 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,710 psi | 63% | 2211 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,592 psi | 59% | 2224 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 71% | 2139 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 56% | 2113 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,611 psi | 67% | 2254 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,328 psi | 52% | 2106 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,140 psi | 83% | 2365 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,989 psi | 38% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,902 psi | 71% | 2205 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,999 psi | 61% | 2188 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,721 psi | 54% | 2100 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 34.9 gr | 82% | 35,926 psi | 60% | 2178 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,592 psi | 59% | 2224 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,890 psi | 76% | 2290 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 66% | 1972 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 34.8 gr | 82% | 33,837 psi | 56% | 2146 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,472 psi | 51% | 2044 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,503 psi | 54% | 2044 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,544 psi | 49% | 1998 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,293 psi | 70% | 2303 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,283 psi | 49% | 2005 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,690 psi | 83% | 2152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,114 psi | 60% | 2100 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 48% | 1975 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,961 psi | 41% | 1893 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 24,584 psi | 41% | 1962 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,676 psi | 53% | 2090 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,119 psi | 70% | 2270 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,635 psi | 58% | 2165 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,913 psi | 63% | 2251 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 56 powders for .338 Federal loaded with the .338 | 206gr | Peregrine VLR-5. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,461 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,391 fps to 2,461 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 56 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (415 MPa), the top charges use 52–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 206.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:12.5 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, SNPE Vectan SP 10 rank at the top here: for .338 Federal with the .338 | 206gr | Peregrine VLR-5 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.