Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Federal with .338 | 250gr | Sierra GameKing 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 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% | 54,375 psi | 90% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,286 psi | 87% | 2156 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,157 psi | 90% | 2228 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,807 psi | 84% | 2195 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,879 psi | 85% | 2175 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,166 psi | 78% | 2159 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,561 psi | 86% | 2221 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,816 psi | 73% | 2146 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,822 psi | 86% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,257 psi | 87% | 2103 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,358 psi | 85% | 2218 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,460 psi | 87% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,238 psi | 77% | 2129 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,896 psi | 90% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,300 psi | 85% | 2188 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,054 psi | 86% | 2215 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,982 psi | 86% | 2267 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,053 psi | 85% | 2287 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,859 psi | 73% | 2142 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,910 psi | 88% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,312 psi | 80% | 2198 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,693 psi | 89% | 2123 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,330 psi | 89% | 2129 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,288 psi | 90% | 2267 fps | 97.7% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,337 psi | 72% | 2149 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,215 psi | 90% | 2182 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,909 psi | 86% | 2251 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,215 psi | 90% | 2320 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,199 psi | 87% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,026 psi | 88% | 2224 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,099 psi | 90% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,706 psi | 86% | 2228 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,705 psi | 83% | 2247 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,257 psi | 55% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,693 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,489 psi | 87% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,559 psi | 81% | 2152 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,157 psi | 90% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,201 psi | 90% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,385 psi | 82% | 2224 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,300 psi | 85% | 2188 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,706 psi | 86% | 2188 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,082 psi | 85% | 2185 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,257 psi | 87% | 2241 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,968 psi | 88% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,866 psi | 88% | 2165 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,340 psi | 79% | 2156 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,447 psi | 89% | 2152 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,214 psi | 88% | 2215 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,069 psi | 88% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,311 psi | 79% | 2188 fps | 97.8% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,906 psi | 80% | 2205 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,344 psi | 87% | 2195 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,896 psi | 90% | 2254 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,229 psi | 88% | 2192 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,460 psi | 56% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,896 psi | 90% | 2103 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,445 psi | 85% | 2185 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,734 psi | 84% | 2283 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,119 psi | 70% | 2175 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,331 psi | 90% | 2205 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,415 psi | 84% | 2172 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,509 psi | 67% | 2096 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,706 psi | 86% | 2188 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,257 psi | 87% | 2241 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,340 psi | 79% | 2156 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,953 psi | 86% | 2159 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,592 psi | 89% | 1906 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,331 psi | 90% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,236 psi | 72% | 2146 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,114 psi | 90% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,692 psi | 88% | 2208 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,997 psi | 88% | 2234 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,606 psi | 89% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,759 psi | 76% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,011 psi | 86% | 2221 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,590 psi | 86% | 2142 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,228 psi | 87% | 2211 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,814 psi | 69% | 2103 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,460 psi | 87% | 2070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,548 psi | 89% | 2129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,837 psi | 88% | 2139 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,008 psi | 80% | 2156 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,589 psi | 84% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,480 psi | 67% | 2060 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,793 psi | 86% | 2188 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,791 psi | 81% | 2172 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,055 psi | 88% | 2264 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,895 psi | 86% | 2238 fps | 98.8% |
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% | 47,674 psi | 79% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,024 psi | 53% | 1877 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,945 psi | 70% | 2057 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,452 psi | 69% | 2064 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,229 psi | 57% | 1939 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,540 psi | 41% | 1791 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 50% | 1896 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 24,845 psi | 41% | 1808 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,002 psi | 68% | 1952 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,379 psi | 69% | 1959 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,739 psi | 63% | 2018 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 73% | 2011 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,176 psi | 68% | 2054 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,696 psi | 64% | 2024 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,301 psi | 55% | 1916 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 49% | 1893 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 31.8 gr | 80% | 35,201 psi | 58% | 2011 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,788 psi | 74% | 2195 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,403 psi | 57% | 1988 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,796 psi | 61% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,016 psi | 66% | 2077 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 75% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 65% | 1949 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,959 psi | 70% | 2096 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,301 psi | 55% | 1985 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,649 psi | 56% | 1883 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,603 psi | 51% | 1923 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 38.2 gr | 88% | 41,771 psi | 69% | 2142 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 59% | 1969 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,592 psi | 59% | 1982 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,165 psi | 75% | 2018 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,592 psi | 59% | 1988 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,997 psi | 56% | 1995 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,540 psi | 41% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,014 psi | 61% | 1995 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,239 psi | 47% | 1880 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,538 psi | 67% | 2037 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,247 psi | 64% | 1939 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,763 psi | 84% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,042 psi | 60% | 2024 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,301 psi | 55% | 1916 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 70% | 2060 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,881 psi | 56% | 1936 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,774 psi | 44% | 1837 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,734 psi | 83% | 1995 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,289 psi | 62% | 1942 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,011 psi | 55% | 1929 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,510 psi | 69% | 2011 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,735 psi | 54% | 1909 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 47% | 1847 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,811 psi | 61% | 2028 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,378 psi | 65% | 2077 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,878 psi | 81% | 2152 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,754 psi | 64% | 2044 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,914 psi | 65% | 1995 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,540 psi | 41% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,039 psi | 85% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,288 psi | 59% | 1952 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,030 psi | 65% | 2110 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,980 psi | 51% | 1955 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 53% | 1880 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,054 psi | 55% | 1909 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,476 psi | 59% | 2018 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 70% | 2060 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,774 psi | 44% | 1837 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,011 psi | 55% | 1929 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,217 psi | 62% | 1955 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,759 psi | 76% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,044 psi | 65% | 2028 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,014 psi | 63% | 2060 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 62% | 1965 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,977 psi | 76% | 2123 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,740 psi | 64% | 2034 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,951 psi | 51% | 1821 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,048 psi | 42% | 1716 fps | 96.1% |
| Somchem S321 | 34.3 gr | 80% | 32,953 psi | 55% | 1936 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,168 psi | 50% | 1824 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,449 psi | 62% | 2005 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,853 psi | 58% | 1988 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,932 psi | 73% | 1975 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,230 psi | 59% | 1893 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 51% | 1831 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,817 psi | 43% | 1798 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,151 psi | 45% | 1801 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,401 psi | 52% | 1903 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,054 psi | 55% | 1909 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,904 psi | 43% | 1788 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,646 psi | 49% | 1890 fps | 95% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,259 psi | 59% | 1991 fps | 95.2% |
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 | Sierra GameKing. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,320 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,270 fps to 2,320 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 1:14.0 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, Somchem S321 rank at the top here: for .338 Federal with the .338 | 250gr | Sierra GameKing 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.