Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .338 RCM with .338 | 225gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT bullet and 91 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 Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR.
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>> | 82% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2425 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2513 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 2474 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,287 psi | 85% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,980 psi | 80% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,185 psi | 85% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 2503 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 2451 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2467 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,680 psi | 89% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,810 psi | 88% | 2559 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,345 psi | 86% | 2589 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,734 psi | 80% | 2464 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,549 psi | 87% | 2533 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,266 psi | 71% | 2454 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,056 psi | 88% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,216 psi | 89% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2516 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,632 psi | 80% | 2474 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,420 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,592 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,492 psi | 89% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,764 psi | 83% | 2480 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 2513 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2582 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,794 psi | 54% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,173 psi | 90% | 2516 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,331 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 2562 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2467 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,258 psi | 85% | 2457 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,042 psi | 88% | 2444 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,069 psi | 85% | 2477 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,187 psi | 88% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 2497 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,289 psi | 90% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2520 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2543 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,040 psi | 85% | 2497 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 2474 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,823 psi | 54% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,780 psi | 86% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 2470 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2589 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,413 psi | 76% | 2520 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,272 psi | 85% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,919 psi | 74% | 2415 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,069 psi | 85% | 2477 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,852 psi | 85% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,573 psi | 78% | 2474 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,333 psi | 90% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2497 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 2526 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,329 psi | 82% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,955 psi | 88% | 2507 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,897 psi | 88% | 2497 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,355 psi | 76% | 2421 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,721 psi | 54% | 2257 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,448 psi | 89% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,098 psi | 85% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,585 psi | 73% | 2365 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2470 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,814 psi | 67% | 2310 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 2530 fps | 99.6% |
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% | 51,808 psi | 83% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 57% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,122 psi | 74% | 2369 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 74% | 2375 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,942 psi | 61% | 2224 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 44% | 2047 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,460 psi | 54% | 2178 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,846 psi | 41% | 2028 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,164 psi | 71% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 71% | 2241 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,592 psi | 55% | 2182 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,805 psi | 77% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,014 psi | 61% | 2231 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,844 psi | 69% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,403 psi | 55% | 2156 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,590 psi | 52% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 39.8 gr | 80% | 39,291 psi | 63% | 2316 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 47.7 gr | 90% | 40,799 psi | 65% | 2379 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,836 psi | 51% | 2156 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,625 psi | 65% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,057 psi | 59% | 2254 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,376 psi | 58% | 2303 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,762 psi | 78% | 2303 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 68% | 2224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,959 psi | 66% | 2320 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,864 psi | 49% | 2149 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,753 psi | 59% | 2162 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,792 psi | 51% | 2159 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 44.5 gr | 82% | 37,956 psi | 61% | 2316 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,247 psi | 63% | 2257 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,508 psi | 63% | 2270 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,482 psi | 68% | 2343 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,733 psi | 78% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,547 psi | 52% | 2146 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,141 psi | 53% | 2205 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,845 psi | 40% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,823 psi | 54% | 2156 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,183 psi | 50% | 2159 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,333 psi | 60% | 2215 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,916 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,491 psi | 57% | 2238 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,403 psi | 55% | 2156 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,731 psi | 75% | 2365 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 60% | 2224 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 48% | 2113 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,984 psi | 58% | 2142 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,211 psi | 48% | 2087 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,440 psi | 73% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,560 psi | 51% | 2100 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 51% | 2119 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,040 psi | 55% | 2198 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,085 psi | 58% | 2251 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,686 psi | 72% | 2336 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,375 psi | 57% | 2211 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,492 psi | 60% | 2195 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,005 psi | 40% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,783 psi | 62% | 2238 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,661 psi | 80% | 2421 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,348 psi | 61% | 2336 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,950 psi | 48% | 2162 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,969 psi | 56% | 2152 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 48% | 2060 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,953 psi | 53% | 2185 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,731 psi | 75% | 2365 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 48% | 2113 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,211 psi | 48% | 2087 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 66% | 2247 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,979 psi | 79% | 2077 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,149 psi | 69% | 2323 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,536 psi | 60% | 2287 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,162 psi | 66% | 2251 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,090 psi | 67% | 2303 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,534 psi | 57% | 2201 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 54% | 2083 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 44% | 1965 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 58% | 2218 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,895 psi | 53% | 2090 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,434 psi | 58% | 2211 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,418 psi | 55% | 2198 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,633 psi | 51% | 2211 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,819 psi | 77% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 61% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,591 psi | 54% | 2093 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,471 psi | 46% | 2060 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 48% | 2067 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,776 psi | 46% | 2057 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,997 psi | 55% | 2146 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 46% | 2054 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,724 psi | 59% | 2215 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,822 psi | 53% | 2178 fps | 97% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,461 psi | 55% | 2201 fps | 95.8% |
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 91 powders for .338 RCM loaded with the .338 | 225gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,589 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,447 fps to 2,589 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 91 of the 91 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 225.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:12.0 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, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR rank at the top here: for .338 RCM with the .338 | 225gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT 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.