Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .510 | 535gr | Barnes Banded Solid bullet and 38 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Accurate 4064 and Accurate 2495.
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% | 35,056 psi | 86% | 2008 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,346 psi | 87% | 2077 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,389 psi | 87% | 2073 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,447 psi | 87% | 2096 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,477 psi | 90% | 2054 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,637 psi | 90% | 2100 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,563 psi | 88% | 2087 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,548 psi | 85% | 2083 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 2018 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,085 psi | 89% | 2103 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,680 psi | 90% | 2087 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,012 psi | 86% | 2093 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,272 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,954 psi | 86% | 2093 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,477 psi | 90% | 2054 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 2100 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,027 psi | 89% | 2064 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,795 psi | 88% | 2044 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,491 psi | 87% | 2060 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,446 psi | 82% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,114 psi | 89% | 2149 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,070 psi | 86% | 2014 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,129 psi | 89% | 2041 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 2100 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,027 psi | 89% | 2064 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,853 psi | 88% | 1988 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,693 psi | 85% | 1988 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,172 psi | 89% | 2070 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,041 psi | 86% | 1991 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 2087 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,549 psi | 88% | 1991 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,347 psi | 90% | 2077 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,752 psi | 88% | 2044 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,519 psi | 85% | 2037 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,289 psi | 89% | 2047 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,637 psi | 90% | 2077 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,780 psi | 86% | 2073 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,419 psi | 90% | 2090 fps | 95.9% |
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% | 32,996 psi | 81% | 1972 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | 76.3 gr | 80% | 25,483 psi | 63% | 1886 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,835 psi | 76% | 1988 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 4064 | 76.3 gr | 80% | 24,178 psi | 60% | 1864 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 79% | 1972 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,197 psi | 74% | 1988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,446 psi | 82% | 2047 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,416 psi | 80% | 2044 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,577 psi | 85% | 1978 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 73% | 1972 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,505 psi | 85% | 2047 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,793 psi | 81% | 2047 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,685 psi | 61% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,834 psi | 71% | 1972 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 79% | 1972 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 68% | 1932 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,850 psi | 78% | 1985 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,676 psi | 78% | 1965 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,414 psi | 72% | 1942 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,714 psi | 61% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 92 gr | 90% | 31,792 psi | 78% | 2057 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,083 psi | 81% | 1975 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,908 psi | 79% | 1965 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 68% | 1932 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,850 psi | 78% | 1985 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 78% | 1913 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,643 psi | 63% | 1804 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 83% | 2028 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,009 psi | 76% | 1919 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,881 psi | 83% | 2044 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,459 psi | 77% | 1919 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,484 psi | 65% | 1890 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,804 psi | 68% | 1890 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,501 psi | 75% | 1962 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,778 psi | 78% | 1962 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,701 psi | 66% | 1880 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,501 psi | 75% | 1988 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,156 psi | 84% | 2051 fps | 95.2% |
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 38 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .510 | 535gr | Barnes Banded Solid. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,149 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,339 fps to 2,149 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 38 of the 38 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 82–90 %, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Accurate 4064, Accurate 2495 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .510 | 535gr | Barnes Banded Solid they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.