Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Federal with .338 | 250gr | Nosler Partition Gold bullet and 89 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 Winchester 748.
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>> | 82% | 51,213 psi | 85% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,258 psi | 88% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,358 psi | 85% | 2198 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,735 psi | 86% | 2208 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,721 psi | 86% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,993 psi | 80% | 2175 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,967 psi | 86% | 2231 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,541 psi | 74% | 2159 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,344 psi | 87% | 2100 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,779 psi | 88% | 2113 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,779 psi | 86% | 2228 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,098 psi | 88% | 2119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,920 psi | 78% | 2142 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,447 psi | 90% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,706 psi | 86% | 2198 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,026 psi | 88% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,576 psi | 87% | 2277 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,706 psi | 86% | 2303 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,570 psi | 74% | 2156 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,505 psi | 89% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,704 psi | 81% | 2208 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,871 psi | 66% | 2129 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,317 psi | 90% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,070 psi | 90% | 2139 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,329 psi | 85% | 2234 fps | 97.3% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,077 psi | 73% | 2162 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,866 psi | 86% | 2159 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,663 psi | 87% | 2264 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,285 psi | 85% | 2287 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,707 psi | 88% | 2211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,896 psi | 90% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,273 psi | 90% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,054 psi | 86% | 2238 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,980 psi | 83% | 2254 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,475 psi | 56% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,085 psi | 90% | 2241 fps | 99% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,461 psi | 89% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,298 psi | 82% | 2169 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,851 psi | 86% | 2116 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,418 psi | 90% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,748 psi | 83% | 2234 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,706 psi | 86% | 2198 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,257 psi | 87% | 2198 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,517 psi | 86% | 2195 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,258 psi | 88% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,621 psi | 89% | 2178 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,109 psi | 80% | 2172 fps | 99% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,650 psi | 89% | 2159 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,012 psi | 90% | 2228 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,954 psi | 90% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,703 psi | 79% | 2201 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,530 psi | 81% | 2221 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,968 psi | 88% | 2208 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,201 psi | 90% | 2264 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,983 psi | 90% | 2208 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,315 psi | 55% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2201 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,445 psi | 85% | 2300 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,699 psi | 71% | 2192 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,982 psi | 86% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,865 psi | 85% | 2182 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,901 psi | 68% | 2110 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,257 psi | 87% | 2198 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,171 psi | 88% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,109 psi | 80% | 2172 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,750 psi | 88% | 2175 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,853 psi | 89% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,184 psi | 85% | 2198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,830 psi | 73% | 2159 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,692 psi | 86% | 2159 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,461 psi | 89% | 2221 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 89% | 2247 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,027 psi | 90% | 2156 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,543 psi | 77% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,808 psi | 88% | 2234 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,388 psi | 87% | 2156 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,504 psi | 87% | 2221 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,511 psi | 71% | 2116 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,127 psi | 88% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,085 psi | 90% | 2139 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,359 psi | 89% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,863 psi | 81% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,010 psi | 85% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,828 psi | 68% | 2070 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,591 psi | 87% | 2205 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,124 psi | 82% | 2178 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,838 psi | 89% | 2277 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,605 psi | 87% | 2254 fps | 99% |
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% | 48,167 psi | 80% | 2047 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,518 psi | 54% | 1890 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,453 psi | 71% | 2070 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,945 psi | 70% | 2077 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 58% | 1952 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,976 psi | 41% | 1801 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 50% | 1903 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,743 psi | 39% | 1781 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 68% | 1959 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,553 psi | 69% | 1969 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,159 psi | 63% | 2031 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 73% | 2018 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,524 psi | 69% | 2064 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 65% | 2031 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,707 psi | 56% | 1926 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,617 psi | 49% | 1903 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 32.2 gr | 80% | 35,723 psi | 59% | 2024 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,380 psi | 70% | 2162 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,706 psi | 54% | 1959 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,376 psi | 62% | 1972 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,393 psi | 67% | 2087 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,579 psi | 62% | 2090 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,092 psi | 75% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,262 psi | 65% | 1955 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,279 psi | 70% | 2110 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,707 psi | 56% | 1998 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,084 psi | 57% | 1893 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,980 psi | 51% | 1932 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 37.7 gr | 86% | 39,349 psi | 65% | 2106 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,853 psi | 60% | 1982 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,998 psi | 60% | 1991 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,397 psi | 75% | 2028 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,042 psi | 60% | 1998 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,345 psi | 57% | 2008 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,526 psi | 41% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,172 psi | 58% | 1965 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 47% | 1886 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,450 psi | 64% | 2011 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 65% | 1952 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,445 psi | 85% | 2047 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,434 psi | 61% | 2034 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,707 psi | 56% | 1926 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,424 psi | 70% | 2073 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,330 psi | 57% | 1946 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,166 psi | 45% | 1850 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,444 psi | 84% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,695 psi | 63% | 1952 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,430 psi | 52% | 1903 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,163 psi | 70% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,185 psi | 55% | 1923 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 48% | 1860 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,202 psi | 62% | 2041 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,958 psi | 66% | 2093 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,516 psi | 82% | 2165 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,782 psi | 61% | 2014 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,276 psi | 65% | 2005 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,831 psi | 41% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,491 psi | 59% | 1959 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,407 psi | 65% | 2123 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,212 psi | 52% | 1969 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,634 psi | 54% | 1893 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,460 psi | 56% | 1919 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,649 psi | 56% | 1988 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,424 psi | 70% | 2073 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,166 psi | 45% | 1850 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,430 psi | 52% | 1903 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 63% | 1965 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,093 psi | 77% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,523 psi | 66% | 2041 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,624 psi | 64% | 2077 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,753 psi | 63% | 1975 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,673 psi | 78% | 2139 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,796 psi | 61% | 2008 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 52% | 1827 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,251 psi | 42% | 1726 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 55% | 1942 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 51% | 1837 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,753 psi | 63% | 2014 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,273 psi | 59% | 1998 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,237 psi | 73% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 59% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,922 psi | 51% | 1837 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,020 psi | 43% | 1808 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,311 psi | 45% | 1808 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,734 psi | 53% | 1913 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,460 psi | 56% | 1923 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,266 psi | 44% | 1798 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | 33.7 gr | 80% | 30,008 psi | 50% | 1903 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,592 psi | 59% | 2005 fps | 95.4% |
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 89 powders for .338 Federal loaded with the .338 | 250gr | Nosler Partition Gold. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,303 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,276 fps to 2,303 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 89 of the 89 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 250.0 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 2208 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, Winchester 748 rank at the top here: for .338 Federal with the .338 | 250gr | Nosler Partition Gold 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.