Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .510 | 550gr | Impala RNFP KO bullet and 31 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 Accurate 4064.
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 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,738 psi | 90% | 2018 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2028 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2028 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,564 psi | 90% | 2037 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,230 psi | 89% | 1975 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,506 psi | 90% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,650 psi | 88% | 2014 fps | 96% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 2018 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 2028 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 2014 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,098 psi | 84% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,201 psi | 89% | 2041 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,230 psi | 89% | 1975 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2028 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,405 psi | 90% | 1995 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,390 psi | 90% | 1978 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,679 psi | 88% | 1988 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,330 psi | 85% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 2070 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,680 psi | 90% | 1975 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2028 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,405 psi | 90% | 1995 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 1916 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 1952 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,418 psi | 87% | 1926 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,549 psi | 88% | 1923 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,434 psi | 90% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,766 psi | 88% | 1975 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,592 psi | 85% | 1969 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,013 psi | 89% | 1972 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2005 fps | 98.7% |
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 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 72% | 1880 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,155 psi | 79% | 1949 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,155 psi | 79% | 1949 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | 72.4 gr | 80% | 27,557 psi | 68% | 1860 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 84% | 1939 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 80% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,620 psi | 83% | 1975 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,938 psi | 81% | 1978 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,807 psi | 78% | 1949 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,592 psi | 85% | 1975 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,382 psi | 63% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 69.1 gr | 80% | 28,834 psi | 71% | 1896 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 84% | 1939 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 75% | 1913 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,547 psi | 80% | 1923 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,474 psi | 80% | 1903 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,792 psi | 78% | 1916 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,556 psi | 63% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 85.4 gr | 88% | 31,981 psi | 79% | 1985 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,808 psi | 81% | 1903 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 75% | 1913 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,547 psi | 80% | 1923 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,997 psi | 84% | 1883 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,804 psi | 68% | 1781 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,475 psi | 82% | 1890 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 83% | 1890 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 72% | 1870 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 74% | 1867 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,980 psi | 76% | 1896 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,997 psi | 84% | 1932 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,964 psi | 71% | 1857 fps | 96.5% |
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 31 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .510 | 550gr | Impala RNFP KO. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,070 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,302 fps to 2,070 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 31 of the 31 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 84–90 %, 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, Accurate 4064 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .510 | 550gr | Impala RNFP KO 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.