Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .50 BMG with .510 | 550gr | Impala RNFP KO bullet and 26 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2218, Vihtavuori N570 and Alliant Reloder-33.
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.
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: 29"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 8700ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,037 psi | 90% | 2890 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,542 psi | 85% | 2831 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,385 psi | 90% | 2995 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,993 psi | 89% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,108 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,746 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,239 psi | 88% | 2927 fps | 97% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,876 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 97.4% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,166 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,296 psi | 86% | 2858 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,514 psi | 87% | 2851 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,167 psi | 90% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,130 psi | 71% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,327 psi | 90% | 2887 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,776 psi | 89% | 2910 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,268 psi | 88% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,745 psi | 85% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,848 psi | 89% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,160 psi | 73% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,138 psi | 90% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,051 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,224 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,066 psi | 90% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,240 psi | 90% | 2871 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,643 psi | 85% | 2874 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,470 psi | 87% | 2933 fps | 96.9% |
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 8700 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,018 psi | 78% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,389 psi | 66% | 2605 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2218 | 258.9 gr | 90% | 42,351 psi | 79% | 2858 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,924 psi | 61% | 2592 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,466 psi | 75% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | 251.9 gr | 86% | 40,756 psi | 76% | 2795 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,234 psi | 77% | 2802 fps | 95.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,164 psi | 82% | 2749 fps | 96.7% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,382 psi | 83% | 2792 fps | 99.6% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 71% | 2690 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,203 psi | 71% | 2677 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,653 psi | 74% | 2802 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 54% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,237 psi | 84% | 2831 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 57% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,018 psi | 78% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,140 psi | 58% | 2552 fps | 98% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 78% | 2730 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 55% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,044 psi | 73% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,274 psi | 68% | 2680 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,251 psi | 82% | 2792 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,165 psi | 84% | 2730 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 79% | 2759 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,362 psi | 70% | 2694 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | 236.7 gr | 84% | 40,654 psi | 76% | 2805 fps | 95.1% |
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 34 powders for .50 BMG loaded with the .510 | 550gr | Impala RNFP KO. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,995 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,873 fps to 2,995 fps. Accurate 8700 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 34 of the 34 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (370 MPa), the top charges use 71–90 %, 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, Vihtavuori N570, Alliant Reloder-33 rank at the top here: for .50 BMG with the .510 | 550gr | Impala RNFP KO they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Hodgdon US 869, 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.