Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .51 | 600gr | Peregrine VRG-3 bullet and 48 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Lovex D073.6 and Shooters World Match Rifle.
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>> | 84% | 36,201 psi | 89% | 1893 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,521 psi | 90% | 1926 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,042 psi | 89% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,214 psi | 84% | 1923 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,245 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,578 psi | 88% | 1929 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,592 psi | 88% | 1906 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,752 psi | 88% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,650 psi | 85% | 1939 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,911 psi | 88% | 1975 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,882 psi | 88% | 1873 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,085 psi | 86% | 1952 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,752 psi | 88% | 1939 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,361 psi | 90% | 1985 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,982 psi | 81% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,998 psi | 86% | 1906 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,419 psi | 90% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,289 psi | 89% | 1972 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,592 psi | 88% | 1906 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,303 psi | 89% | 1926 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 1946 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,983 psi | 86% | 1916 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,679 psi | 85% | 1896 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,621 psi | 85% | 1913 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,766 psi | 86% | 1939 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,564 psi | 90% | 1952 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 1903 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,982 psi | 81% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,230 psi | 87% | 2001 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,868 psi | 88% | 1900 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,925 psi | 86% | 1893 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,708 psi | 88% | 1965 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 1946 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,983 psi | 86% | 1916 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,564 psi | 90% | 1946 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 1844 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,129 psi | 89% | 1877 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,273 psi | 87% | 1926 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,230 psi | 89% | 1880 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,041 psi | 86% | 1939 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,404 psi | 87% | 1926 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,954 psi | 86% | 1900 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,853 psi | 88% | 1929 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,404 psi | 87% | 1903 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,723 psi | 88% | 1929 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,303 psi | 89% | 1969 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,520 psi | 87% | 1946 fps | 96.6% |
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% | 31,836 psi | 78% | 1824 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,026 psi | 84% | 1886 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,815 psi | 59% | 1736 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,646 psi | 73% | 1841 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,684 psi | 56% | 1716 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,373 psi | 82% | 1890 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,241 psi | 77% | 1827 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 72% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,414 psi | 75% | 1864 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,124 psi | 72% | 1857 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,663 psi | 83% | 1834 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,413 psi | 70% | 1831 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,357 psi | 77% | 1860 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,966 psi | 79% | 1906 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,352 psi | 60% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,851 psi | 81% | 1870 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 69% | 1827 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,982 psi | 84% | 1932 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,241 psi | 77% | 1827 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 83% | 1883 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 74.2 gr | 80% | 26,469 psi | 65% | 1788 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,950 psi | 71% | 1804 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 70% | 1781 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 70% | 1801 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,576 psi | 80% | 1900 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,229 psi | 84% | 1913 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,229 psi | 84% | 1864 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,192 psi | 60% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 83.1 gr | 88% | 28,935 psi | 71% | 1870 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,575 psi | 78% | 1827 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,877 psi | 71% | 1781 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,140 psi | 77% | 1886 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | 74.2 gr | 80% | 26,469 psi | 65% | 1788 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,950 psi | 71% | 1804 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,316 psi | 85% | 1906 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 76% | 1772 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,729 psi | 61% | 1670 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,851 psi | 81% | 1883 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,965 psi | 74% | 1778 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,850 psi | 76% | 1864 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 75% | 1781 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,454 psi | 63% | 1749 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,847 psi | 66% | 1752 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,688 psi | 68% | 1781 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,864 psi | 76% | 1821 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,672 psi | 63% | 1742 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,617 psi | 73% | 1847 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,038 psi | 76% | 1864 fps | 95% |
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 | 600gr | Peregrine VRG-3. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,001 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,234 fps to 2,001 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 75–90 %, 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, Lovex D073.6, Shooters World Match Rifle rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .51 | 600gr | Peregrine VRG-3 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.