Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .51 | 575gr | Peregrine VRG-2 bullet and 47 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon LEVERevolution and Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5.
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: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,679 psi | 85% | 1932 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,664 psi | 85% | 1995 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,100 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,100 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 2018 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,347 psi | 90% | 2005 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1982 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,637 psi | 90% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,404 psi | 87% | 2014 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,839 psi | 88% | 2067 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,345 psi | 85% | 2014 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,477 psi | 90% | 1946 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 2031 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,824 psi | 88% | 1985 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 2014 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,882 psi | 86% | 2024 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,141 psi | 82% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,983 psi | 86% | 1972 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,766 psi | 86% | 2011 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1982 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,100 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,824 psi | 88% | 1929 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 1991 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,418 psi | 87% | 1972 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,389 psi | 87% | 1988 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,563 psi | 88% | 2018 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,112 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 2080 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,477 psi | 90% | 1975 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,621 psi | 88% | 1969 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 2044 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,100 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 1991 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,636 psi | 88% | 1916 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,664 psi | 85% | 1919 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,027 psi | 89% | 2001 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,679 psi | 85% | 1919 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,868 psi | 88% | 2014 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,520 psi | 87% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 2001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,650 psi | 88% | 1975 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,418 psi | 85% | 1969 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,114 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 2005 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,521 psi | 90% | 1991 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,012 psi | 86% | 2011 fps | 98% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,503 psi | 80% | 1896 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,482 psi | 60% | 1804 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,080 psi | 72% | 1900 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,080 psi | 72% | 1900 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,293 psi | 57% | 1785 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,084 psi | 84% | 1965 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,894 psi | 79% | 1903 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 74% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | 82.5 gr | 88% | 31,183 psi | 77% | 1939 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,547 psi | 83% | 2021 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,834 psi | 73% | 1929 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,124 psi | 72% | 1903 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 83% | 1949 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,053 psi | 79% | 1936 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 83.7 gr | 86% | 30,647 psi | 75% | 1942 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,410 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,938 psi | 81% | 1932 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,121 psi | 64% | 1847 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,576 psi | 80% | 1969 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,894 psi | 79% | 1903 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,151 psi | 67% | 1860 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,620 psi | 83% | 1890 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,588 psi | 73% | 1877 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 72% | 1854 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 72% | 1870 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,330 psi | 82% | 1978 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,381 psi | 60% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 87.9 gr | 88% | 29,544 psi | 73% | 1946 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 79% | 1900 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,443 psi | 73% | 1854 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,995 psi | 79% | 1962 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,151 psi | 67% | 1860 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,588 psi | 73% | 1877 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,343 psi | 77% | 1844 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,251 psi | 62% | 1739 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,576 psi | 83% | 1959 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,574 psi | 75% | 1847 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,589 psi | 78% | 1939 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,256 psi | 77% | 1850 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,078 psi | 64% | 1821 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,456 psi | 68% | 1824 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,239 psi | 70% | 1854 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,459 psi | 77% | 1893 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,252 psi | 65% | 1811 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,156 psi | 84% | 1949 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,619 psi | 80% | 1969 fps | 97.3% |
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 75 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .51 | 575gr | Peregrine VRG-2. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,080 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,283 fps to 2,080 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 75 of the 75 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 72–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon LEVERevolution, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .51 | 575gr | Peregrine VRG-2 they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR 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.