Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .50 A.E. with .500 | 300gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot bullet and 45 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N105, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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 ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 91.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1289 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 87% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,383 psi | 82% | 1302 fps | 88.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1312 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,847 psi | 83% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,168 psi | 90% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,231 psi | 55% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 91.3% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,810 psi | 50% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 93% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 91.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1316 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,588 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,963 psi | 81% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 93.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1352 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,615 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,135 psi | 75% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 67% | 1214 fps | 85.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,933 psi | 78% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 68% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 988 fps | 88.4% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 80% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 78% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 70% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,656 psi | 74% | 1247 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 76% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,563 psi | 50% | 1010 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 65% | 1188 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,801 psi | 74% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 69% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,106 psi | 75% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,056 psi | 48% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,325 psi | 25% | 692 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 80% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 67% | 1214 fps | 85.9% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,411 psi | 79% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 64% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,308 psi | 70% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,989 psi | 72% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,715 psi | 77% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 6.6 gr | 60% | 7,803 psi | 23% | 692 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 64% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 58% | 1135 fps | 86% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,143 psi | 48% | 1096 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 67% | 1214 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 63% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,078 psi | 78% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 76% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 54% | 1053 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,961 psi | 75% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 72% | 1247 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,005 psi | 78% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 71% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,929 psi | 63% | 1132 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,014 psi | 54% | 1099 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 17.1 gr | 68% | 14,620 psi | 44% | 1056 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 8.8 gr | 60% | 13,996 psi | 42% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,455 psi | 79% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 69% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 55% | 1076 fps | 98% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 66% | 1083 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 45 powders for .50 A.E. loaded with the .500 | 300gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Accurate No. 7 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,358 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 928 fps to 1,358 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 9 of the 45 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 50–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. Vihtavuori N105, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .50 A.E. with the .500 | 300gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 7, Alliant BLUE DOT, Lovex D037.1 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI AP 100 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.