Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .510 | 535gr | Barnes Banded Solid RN bullet and 37 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, IMR 3031 and Lovex D073.6.
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% | 36,143 psi | 89% | 2014 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,521 psi | 90% | 2044 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,187 psi | 89% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,550 psi | 90% | 2080 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,216 psi | 89% | 2096 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,331 psi | 87% | 2018 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,360 psi | 87% | 2070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,506 psi | 90% | 2090 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,534 psi | 88% | 2090 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,665 psi | 88% | 1985 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,664 psi | 85% | 2064 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 2096 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,141 psi | 82% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,868 psi | 88% | 2096 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,331 psi | 87% | 2018 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,216 psi | 89% | 2041 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 2064 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 2028 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,621 psi | 85% | 2008 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,593 psi | 90% | 2064 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,156 psi | 82% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 2106 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,071 psi | 89% | 2018 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,925 psi | 86% | 2008 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 2064 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 2028 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,838 psi | 86% | 1955 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,766 psi | 88% | 1991 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,998 psi | 86% | 2037 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 1995 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 1998 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,027 psi | 86% | 2044 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,519 psi | 85% | 2011 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,534 psi | 88% | 2041 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,012 psi | 86% | 2011 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,375 psi | 87% | 2044 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 2080 fps | 97.2% |
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% | 31,894 psi | 79% | 1939 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,127 psi | 84% | 2001 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,453 psi | 60% | 1854 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,675 psi | 73% | 1952 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 24,700 psi | 61% | 1867 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,170 psi | 82% | 1978 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 72% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,316 psi | 85% | 2051 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,257 psi | 82% | 2047 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,518 psi | 83% | 1946 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,385 psi | 75% | 1978 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,808 psi | 83% | 2054 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,439 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 73 gr | 80% | 28,007 psi | 69% | 1942 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,170 psi | 82% | 1978 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,881 psi | 83% | 1998 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 77.8 gr | 80% | 26,571 psi | 65% | 1896 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,764 psi | 81% | 1991 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,503 psi | 80% | 1969 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,398 psi | 70% | 1909 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,468 psi | 60% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 91.1 gr | 92% | 32,851 psi | 81% | 2060 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,010 psi | 79% | 1942 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,779 psi | 81% | 1969 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,571 psi | 65% | 1896 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,764 psi | 81% | 1991 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 76% | 1880 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,903 psi | 61% | 1775 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,677 psi | 80% | 1995 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,081 psi | 74% | 1886 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,501 psi | 75% | 1890 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,599 psi | 63% | 1857 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,963 psi | 66% | 1860 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,328 psi | 77% | 1962 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,793 psi | 81% | 1972 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,802 psi | 64% | 1847 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,488 psi | 78% | 1995 fps | 95.8% |
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 37 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .510 | 535gr | Barnes Banded Solid RN. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,106 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,325 fps to 2,106 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 37 of the 37 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, IMR 3031, Lovex D073.6 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .510 | 535gr | Barnes Banded Solid RN 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.