Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .50 BMG with .510 | 525gr | Barnes Solid RN bullet and 38 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2218, Hodgdon Retumbo and ReloadSwiss RS 76.
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: 29"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,385 psi | 90% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,036 psi | 88% | 2943 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,805 psi | 89% | 2946 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,499 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,209 psi | 86% | 3012 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,559 psi | 90% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,428 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,963 psi | 88% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,673 psi | 87% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,239 psi | 88% | 3005 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,731 psi | 87% | 2986 fps | 96.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,861 psi | 85% | 2848 fps | 96.6% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,008 psi | 89% | 2940 fps | 99.8% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,557 psi | 87% | 2940 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,428 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,645 psi | 89% | 2943 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,297 psi | 88% | 2881 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,456 psi | 87% | 2864 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,672 psi | 85% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,681 psi | 70% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,254 psi | 90% | 2864 fps | 99% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,354 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,718 psi | 89% | 2982 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,123 psi | 88% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,544 psi | 90% | 3009 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,109 psi | 90% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,717 psi | 87% | 2946 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,339 psi | 84% | 2877 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,609 psi | 72% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,469 psi | 85% | 2989 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,486 psi | 90% | 3012 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,137 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,761 psi | 89% | 2956 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,440 psi | 85% | 2894 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,006 psi | 86% | 2956 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,891 psi | 87% | 3012 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,498 psi | 85% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,658 psi | 85% | 2822 fps | 99.5% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 29"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,308 psi | 79% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 82% | 2877 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,582 psi | 77% | 2818 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,185 psi | 62% | 2615 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2218 | 270.4 gr | 94% | 43,004 psi | 80% | 2936 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,398 psi | 53% | 2523 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 79% | 2825 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 77% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 66% | 2700 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,845 psi | 82% | 2933 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,337 psi | 81% | 2917 fps | 95.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,062 psi | 80% | 2789 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 73% | 2762 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,996 psi | 61% | 2631 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 79% | 2825 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,663 psi | 63% | 2631 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,193 psi | 82% | 2815 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 81% | 2802 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 217.2 gr | 80% | 34,664 psi | 65% | 2743 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,297 psi | 53% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,266 psi | 84% | 2808 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,306 psi | 75% | 2799 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,734 psi | 59% | 2618 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,535 psi | 68% | 2621 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,833 psi | 52% | 2523 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,831 psi | 84% | 2897 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,292 psi | 75% | 2812 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,201 psi | 67% | 2687 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,022 psi | 54% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 232.4 gr | 80% | 33,794 psi | 63% | 2717 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,737 psi | 67% | 2736 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,408 psi | 75% | 2710 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,570 psi | 83% | 2894 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,014 psi | 69% | 2710 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,115 psi | 69% | 2756 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,613 psi | 81% | 2943 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 73% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,554 psi | 79% | 2762 fps | 99.1% |
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 44 powders for .50 BMG loaded with the .510 | 525gr | Barnes Solid RN. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,012 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,913 fps to 3,012 fps. Accurate 8700 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (370 MPa), the top charges use 70–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 8700, 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. ADI AR 2218, Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 rank at the top here: for .50 BMG with the .510 | 525gr | Barnes Solid RN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 8700, IMR 7977 Enduron, Lovex D100 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.