Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Federal with .338 | 225gr | NorthFork Bonded Core bullet and 82 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon CFE223, Alliant Power Pro 1200-R and Accurate 2230.
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>> | 84% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,069 psi | 88% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,083 psi | 87% | 2343 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,866 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,909 psi | 86% | 2329 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,382 psi | 74% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,156 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,249 psi | 69% | 2247 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,156 psi | 88% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,621 psi | 89% | 2257 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,069 psi | 88% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,372 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,112 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,388 psi | 87% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,620 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,611 psi | 69% | 2241 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,722 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,774 psi | 76% | 2300 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,459 psi | 85% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,300 psi | 85% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,924 psi | 86% | 2375 fps | 96.3% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,046 psi | 68% | 2247 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,924 psi | 86% | 2293 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,707 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,590 psi | 86% | 2425 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,982 psi | 88% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,027 psi | 90% | 2379 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,083 psi | 87% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,243 psi | 87% | 2375 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,311 psi | 79% | 2349 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,866 psi | 55% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,155 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,850 psi | 83% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,412 psi | 77% | 2257 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,909 psi | 86% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,880 psi | 86% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,746 psi | 78% | 2329 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,112 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,402 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2336 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,516 psi | 82% | 2352 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,664 psi | 89% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,983 psi | 90% | 2316 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,107 psi | 75% | 2260 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,882 psi | 90% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,734 psi | 84% | 2323 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,531 psi | 84% | 2336 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,817 psi | 74% | 2290 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,527 psi | 76% | 2303 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,242 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,244 psi | 90% | 2343 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,953 psi | 55% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,446 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,167 psi | 80% | 2388 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,161 psi | 67% | 2267 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,793 psi | 86% | 2320 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,819 psi | 79% | 2277 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,402 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,516 psi | 82% | 2352 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,107 psi | 75% | 2260 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,388 psi | 89% | 2313 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,288 psi | 90% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,663 psi | 86% | 2346 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,663 psi | 86% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,546 psi | 84% | 2343 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,114 psi | 90% | 2290 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,497 psi | 72% | 2172 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,200 psi | 88% | 2375 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,446 psi | 87% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,113 psi | 88% | 2359 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,069 psi | 88% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,317 psi | 90% | 2283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,258 psi | 88% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,266 psi | 75% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,066 psi | 80% | 2283 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,421 psi | 64% | 2152 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,663 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,180 psi | 77% | 2277 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,676 psi | 83% | 2349 fps | 97.7% |
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% | 45,716 psi | 76% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,400 psi | 51% | 1969 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,745 psi | 76% | 2251 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2230 | 37.8 gr | 84% | 45,034 psi | 75% | 2251 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,387 psi | 54% | 2028 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,090 psi | 38% | 1870 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,197 psi | 50% | 2021 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,513 psi | 44% | 1965 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 65% | 2054 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 66% | 2064 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,756 psi | 68% | 2198 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 69% | 2123 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 61% | 2123 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,027 psi | 60% | 2090 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 46% | 1985 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 34.9 gr | 84% | 37,956 psi | 63% | 2195 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,912 psi | 61% | 2159 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,128 psi | 58% | 2064 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,134 psi | 72% | 2257 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,975 psi | 71% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,347 psi | 62% | 2047 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,617 psi | 81% | 2329 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,824 psi | 60% | 2159 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,360 psi | 57% | 2014 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,982 psi | 55% | 2090 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 41.7 gr | 92% | 45,165 psi | 75% | 2329 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 56% | 2064 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,968 psi | 56% | 2077 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 72% | 2129 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,232 psi | 64% | 2162 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,841 psi | 65% | 2211 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,279 psi | 40% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,118 psi | 67% | 2172 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,818 psi | 45% | 1965 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,656 psi | 73% | 2218 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,637 psi | 61% | 2047 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,153 psi | 82% | 2159 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,162 psi | 68% | 2241 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,027 psi | 60% | 2090 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,914 psi | 66% | 2162 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,198 psi | 53% | 2024 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,879 psi | 51% | 2051 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,877 psi | 80% | 2113 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,482 psi | 71% | 2152 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,172 psi | 58% | 2096 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,827 psi | 66% | 2123 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,099 psi | 58% | 2077 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,935 psi | 48% | 1975 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,163 psi | 70% | 2247 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,670 psi | 71% | 2257 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,003 psi | 70% | 2228 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,163 psi | 70% | 2172 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,207 psi | 40% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,965 psi | 81% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,417 psi | 56% | 2041 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,005 psi | 75% | 2339 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,534 psi | 59% | 2172 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,690 psi | 51% | 1972 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,404 psi | 59% | 2077 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,914 psi | 66% | 2162 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,879 psi | 51% | 2051 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,172 psi | 58% | 2096 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,869 psi | 63% | 2090 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,222 psi | 73% | 1939 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 62% | 2129 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 59% | 2067 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,742 psi | 69% | 2215 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,602 psi | 49% | 1909 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 25,512 psi | 42% | 1834 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,636 psi | 59% | 2110 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,906 psi | 48% | 1916 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,381 psi | 72% | 2224 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,785 psi | 69% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,721 psi | 56% | 1995 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,341 psi | 49% | 1923 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,497 psi | 41% | 1883 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,369 psi | 45% | 1919 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,794 psi | 56% | 2070 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,839 psi | 60% | 2083 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,849 psi | 50% | 1991 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,389 psi | 57% | 2113 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,348 psi | 64% | 2172 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 82 powders for .338 Federal loaded with the .338 | 225gr | NorthFork Bonded Core. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,425 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,355 fps to 2,425 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 82 of the 82 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (415 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 225.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2206H 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 CFE223, Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Accurate 2230 rank at the top here: for .338 Federal with the .338 | 225gr | NorthFork Bonded Core 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.