Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .510 | 540gr | Rhino 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, IMR 3031 and Hodgdon BL-C2.
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% | 34,737 psi | 86% | 1965 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,969 psi | 86% | 1991 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 2028 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,723 psi | 88% | 2051 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,490 psi | 85% | 2044 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,172 psi | 89% | 2005 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,230 psi | 89% | 2073 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 1975 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,549 psi | 88% | 2054 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,708 psi | 88% | 2014 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,880 psi | 81% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,578 psi | 88% | 2064 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,172 psi | 89% | 2005 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 1988 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,563 psi | 88% | 2047 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,578 psi | 88% | 2014 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,418 psi | 87% | 1995 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,186 psi | 87% | 2014 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,909 psi | 81% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,027 psi | 89% | 2005 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,839 psi | 88% | 2090 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,737 psi | 86% | 1969 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,679 psi | 88% | 1991 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,563 psi | 88% | 2047 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,578 psi | 88% | 2014 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,723 psi | 88% | 1942 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,680 psi | 90% | 1978 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,969 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,824 psi | 86% | 1949 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,360 psi | 87% | 1952 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,665 psi | 88% | 2028 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,418 psi | 87% | 1998 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,289 psi | 89% | 2024 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,013 psi | 89% | 2001 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,260 psi | 89% | 2031 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,911 psi | 86% | 2034 fps | 96.7% |
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% | 30,690 psi | 76% | 1893 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 81% | 1949 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,293 psi | 57% | 1804 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,051 psi | 72% | 1926 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 25,092 psi | 62% | 1854 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,040 psi | 84% | 1965 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,152 psi | 69% | 1909 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,866 psi | 83% | 2031 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 80% | 1896 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 80.8 gr | 84% | 31,227 psi | 77% | 1972 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,488 psi | 78% | 1936 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,265 psi | 60% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 67.5 gr | 80% | 24,801 psi | 61% | 1837 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,040 psi | 84% | 1965 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 80% | 1946 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,195 psi | 67% | 1886 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,388 psi | 82% | 1975 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,388 psi | 82% | 1959 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,253 psi | 67% | 1857 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,279 psi | 60% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,721 psi | 83% | 1962 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 89 gr | 94% | 33,663 psi | 83% | 2044 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,893 psi | 76% | 1896 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,620 psi | 83% | 1955 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,195 psi | 67% | 1886 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,388 psi | 82% | 1975 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,718 psi | 73% | 1834 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,091 psi | 59% | 1729 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,663 psi | 83% | 1985 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 72% | 1841 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 83% | 1913 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 72% | 1844 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,627 psi | 61% | 1811 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,976 psi | 64% | 1811 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,039 psi | 79% | 1949 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,794 psi | 83% | 1962 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,455 psi | 65% | 1837 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 75% | 1949 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 69 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .510 | 540gr | Rhino Solid. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,090 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,299 fps to 2,090 fps. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 69 of the 69 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. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, 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, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .510 | 540gr | Rhino Solid they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2206H, 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.