Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 Lapua Mag. with .338 | 250gr | Barnes X S bullet and 65 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and Winchester StaBALL HD.
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,055 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,998 psi | 89% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,317 psi | 89% | 2749 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,650 psi | 88% | 2680 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,013 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,040 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,892 psi | 79% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,969 psi | 89% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,577 psi | 88% | 2677 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,054 psi | 85% | 2690 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,505 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,649 psi | 86% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,606 psi | 88% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,026 psi | 87% | 2648 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,752 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,663 psi | 86% | 2730 fps | 99.2% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,054 psi | 85% | 2690 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,476 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,781 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,955 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,882 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,520 psi | 90% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,868 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,824 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,507 psi | 62% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,563 psi | 88% | 2618 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,128 psi | 89% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,591 psi | 86% | 2615 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,287 psi | 87% | 2726 fps | 99% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,816 psi | 72% | 2605 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,462 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,837 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,505 psi | 89% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,215 psi | 89% | 2667 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,077 psi | 72% | 2628 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,822 psi | 85% | 2710 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,141 psi | 86% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,911 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,056 psi | 89% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,315 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,450 psi | 63% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,635 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,984 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,938 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,810 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,882 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,345 psi | 88% | 2671 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,462 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,837 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,447 psi | 88% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,924 psi | 87% | 2664 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,866 psi | 87% | 2598 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,736 psi | 87% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,041 psi | 89% | 2648 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,519 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,287 psi | 87% | 2625 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,997 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,924 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,547 psi | 85% | 2703 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,112 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,040 psi | 85% | 2746 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,446 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,969 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,911 psi | 90% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,200 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 99.5% |
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 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 64% | 2382 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,821 psi | 83% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,727 psi | 69% | 2523 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,858 psi | 69% | 2477 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 62% | 2418 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,841 psi | 64% | 2444 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,776 psi | 49% | 2267 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,659 psi | 78% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,974 psi | 69% | 2477 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 63% | 2434 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,956 psi | 61% | 2398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,329 psi | 53% | 2329 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,466 psi | 66% | 2536 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,082 psi | 82% | 2598 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 59% | 2379 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,984 psi | 59% | 2418 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 63% | 2434 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,246 psi | 61% | 2411 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,459 psi | 84% | 2631 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,030 psi | 66% | 2421 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,843 psi | 69% | 2457 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,353 psi | 74% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 76.4 gr | 82% | 33,518 psi | 55% | 2398 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,068 psi | 84% | 2657 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,297 psi | 46% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,558 psi | 78% | 2523 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,935 psi | 79% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,539 psi | 68% | 2418 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,841 psi | 64% | 2457 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,608 psi | 60% | 2451 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,372 psi | 84% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,864 psi | 82% | 2556 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,026 psi | 56% | 2274 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,703 psi | 78% | 2562 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,647 psi | 50% | 2320 fps | 95% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,871 psi | 65% | 2497 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,081 psi | 81% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,537 psi | 63% | 2461 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,718 psi | 78% | 2572 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,590 psi | 54% | 2306 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 48% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,183 psi | 82% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,906 psi | 79% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 79.8 gr | 80% | 30,676 psi | 50% | 2323 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,394 psi | 68% | 2566 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,076 psi | 71% | 2454 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,553 psi | 68% | 2464 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,372 psi | 84% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,864 psi | 82% | 2556 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,212 psi | 82% | 2510 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,205 psi | 68% | 2461 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 72% | 2444 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 76% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 70% | 2451 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,386 psi | 83% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 61% | 2336 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,864 psi | 82% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 68% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 65% | 2484 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,101 psi | 63% | 2434 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,801 psi | 70% | 2579 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,124 psi | 81% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,648 psi | 85% | 2631 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 76.6 gr | 80% | 33,315 psi | 55% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,667 psi | 63% | 2382 fps | 96.8% |
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 71 powders for .338 Lapua Mag. loaded with the .338 | 250gr | Barnes X S. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,844 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,667 fps to 2,844 fps. ADI AR 2217 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 71 of the 71 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (420 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 250.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:13.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2217, ADI AR 2218, ADI AR 2225 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 Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for .338 Lapua Mag. with the .338 | 250gr | Barnes X S they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2218, Alliant Reloder-50, IMR 7977 Enduron burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.