Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Federal with .338 | 230gr | Nosler CT FailSafe bullet and 80 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 Somchem S321.
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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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>> | 84% | 51,648 psi | 86% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,170 psi | 87% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,503 psi | 86% | 2290 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,039 psi | 85% | 2293 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,865 psi | 85% | 2277 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,598 psi | 72% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,285 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,524 psi | 67% | 2198 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,446 psi | 87% | 2195 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,953 psi | 88% | 2208 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,097 psi | 85% | 2310 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,460 psi | 87% | 2218 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,809 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,360 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,605 psi | 86% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,721 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,046 psi | 68% | 2192 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,026 psi | 88% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,201 psi | 90% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,679 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,039 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 96.1% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,205 psi | 67% | 2195 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,346 psi | 90% | 2280 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2352 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,923 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,127 psi | 87% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,098 psi | 88% | 2326 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,433 psi | 90% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,358 psi | 85% | 2320 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,311 psi | 77% | 2293 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,982 psi | 55% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,328 psi | 84% | 2287 fps | 97.7% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,124 psi | 82% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,774 psi | 76% | 2208 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,302 psi | 90% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,447 psi | 90% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,861 psi | 76% | 2274 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,360 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,996 psi | 86% | 2293 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,053 psi | 85% | 2283 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,646 psi | 81% | 2297 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,447 psi | 89% | 2264 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,454 psi | 74% | 2211 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,127 psi | 88% | 2257 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,111 psi | 83% | 2274 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,922 psi | 83% | 2287 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,961 psi | 73% | 2238 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boarᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 97.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,447 psi | 89% | 2290 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,750 psi | 54% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,343 psi | 85% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,692 psi | 86% | 2290 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,427 psi | 79% | 2336 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,682 psi | 66% | 2215 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,157 psi | 90% | 2306 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,166 psi | 78% | 2228 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,996 psi | 86% | 2293 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,646 psi | 81% | 2297 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,454 psi | 74% | 2211 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2257 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,070 psi | 90% | 2011 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,966 psi | 85% | 2293 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,273 psi | 90% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,806 psi | 83% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,780 psi | 89% | 2244 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,178 psi | 72% | 2129 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,417 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,837 psi | 86% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,127 psi | 87% | 2303 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,518 psi | 87% | 2175 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,359 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,881 psi | 88% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,817 psi | 74% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,152 psi | 78% | 2231 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,666 psi | 63% | 2100 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,083 psi | 87% | 2290 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,382 psi | 75% | 2224 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,939 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,631 psi | 81% | 2293 fps | 97.5% |
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% | 45,324 psi | 75% | 2103 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,081 psi | 50% | 1926 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,020 psi | 75% | 2198 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,469 psi | 74% | 2201 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 53% | 1985 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,611 psi | 38% | 1827 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,646 psi | 49% | 1975 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,078 psi | 43% | 1923 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,827 psi | 65% | 2008 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 65% | 2014 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,525 psi | 71% | 2185 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 68% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,085 psi | 60% | 2073 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,433 psi | 59% | 2041 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,441 psi | 46% | 1939 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 33.8 gr | 84% | 37,478 psi | 62% | 2146 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,303 psi | 60% | 2110 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,722 psi | 58% | 2021 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,279 psi | 70% | 2083 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,796 psi | 61% | 2001 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,688 psi | 79% | 2274 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,666 psi | 63% | 2152 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,924 psi | 56% | 1972 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,650 psi | 58% | 2087 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 40.4 gr | 92% | 44,730 psi | 74% | 2280 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,330 psi | 55% | 2021 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,402 psi | 55% | 2031 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,801 psi | 71% | 2080 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,782 psi | 63% | 2116 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,406 psi | 64% | 2162 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,134 psi | 40% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,378 psi | 65% | 2123 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,353 psi | 44% | 1916 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,033 psi | 71% | 2165 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,419 psi | 61% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,631 psi | 81% | 2113 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,524 psi | 67% | 2192 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,433 psi | 59% | 2041 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,218 psi | 65% | 2113 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,939 psi | 56% | 2024 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,371 psi | 50% | 2001 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,674 psi | 79% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,003 psi | 70% | 2106 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,883 psi | 61% | 2090 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 65% | 2077 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,738 psi | 61% | 2070 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,514 psi | 47% | 1929 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,307 psi | 69% | 2195 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,481 psi | 69% | 2178 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,568 psi | 69% | 2123 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,366 psi | 40% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,254 psi | 80% | 2142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,996 psi | 55% | 1995 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,222 psi | 73% | 2283 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,940 psi | 58% | 2119 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,342 psi | 50% | 1929 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,043 psi | 62% | 2070 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,218 psi | 65% | 2113 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,371 psi | 50% | 2001 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,883 psi | 61% | 2090 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,623 psi | 63% | 2047 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 73% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,680 psi | 61% | 2080 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,085 psi | 58% | 2018 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,234 psi | 69% | 2165 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 48% | 1864 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,731 psi | 44% | 1831 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | 36.4 gr | 84% | 35,157 psi | 58% | 2064 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,456 psi | 47% | 1870 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,641 psi | 71% | 2175 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,350 psi | 69% | 2044 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 55% | 1946 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 48% | 1877 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,033 psi | 40% | 1837 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,006 psi | 45% | 1877 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,375 psi | 59% | 2060 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,244 psi | 59% | 2037 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,414 psi | 49% | 1949 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,678 psi | 56% | 2060 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,176 psi | 67% | 2165 fps | 95.6% |
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 80 powders for .338 Federal loaded with the .338 | 230gr | Nosler CT FailSafe. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,372 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,329 fps to 2,372 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 80 of the 80 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (415 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 230.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:14.5 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, Somchem S321 rank at the top here: for .338 Federal with the .338 | 230gr | Nosler CT FailSafe 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.