Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .510 | 600gr | Barnes Solid RN bullet and 43 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 Bofors RP3.
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% | 35,215 psi | 87% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,563 psi | 88% | 1926 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,491 psi | 87% | 1926 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,549 psi | 88% | 1946 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,622 psi | 90% | 1906 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,461 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,592 psi | 88% | 1939 fps | 96.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,780 psi | 86% | 1939 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,129 psi | 89% | 1952 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,650 psi | 85% | 1900 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,085 psi | 86% | 1946 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,460 psi | 82% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,853 psi | 88% | 1906 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,128 psi | 87% | 1942 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,070 psi | 86% | 1936 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,622 psi | 90% | 1906 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,405 psi | 90% | 1949 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,143 psi | 89% | 1854 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 1916 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,969 psi | 89% | 1896 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,679 psi | 88% | 1913 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,853 psi | 88% | 1942 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,576 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,114 psi | 89% | 2001 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,288 psi | 87% | 1870 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,187 psi | 89% | 1896 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 1929 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,405 psi | 90% | 1949 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 1916 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,969 psi | 89% | 1841 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,954 psi | 86% | 1844 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 1923 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,201 psi | 87% | 1847 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 1939 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,737 psi | 88% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,622 psi | 90% | 1926 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 1900 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,635 psi | 85% | 1893 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,361 psi | 90% | 1900 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,695 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 1909 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 1929 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,564 psi | 90% | 1946 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% | 33,112 psi | 82% | 1824 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,628 psi | 63% | 1752 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,024 psi | 76% | 1847 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | 69.4 gr | 80% | 24,352 psi | 60% | 1732 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 79% | 1831 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,371 psi | 75% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,604 psi | 78% | 1867 fps | 95.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | 78.9 gr | 88% | 30,414 psi | 75% | 1864 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,617 psi | 73% | 1834 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,474 psi | 80% | 1860 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,908 psi | 76% | 1867 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,729 psi | 61% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,692 psi | 83% | 1867 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,979 psi | 71% | 1831 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,011 psi | 81% | 1896 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 79% | 1831 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,789 psi | 68% | 1798 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,982 psi | 84% | 1818 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,197 psi | 74% | 1811 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 74% | 1788 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 73% | 1804 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,649 psi | 83% | 1903 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,816 psi | 61% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 81.8 gr | 88% | 29,950 psi | 74% | 1873 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,286 psi | 82% | 1834 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,197 psi | 74% | 1788 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,460 psi | 80% | 1893 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,789 psi | 68% | 1798 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,197 psi | 74% | 1811 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,879 psi | 79% | 1775 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,802 psi | 64% | 1677 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,968 psi | 84% | 1883 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,183 psi | 77% | 1778 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,039 psi | 79% | 1867 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 78% | 1781 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,701 psi | 66% | 1755 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 69% | 1759 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 71% | 1785 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,937 psi | 79% | 1824 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,789 psi | 66% | 1749 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,345 psi | 85% | 1870 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 75% | 1847 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,097 psi | 79% | 1867 fps | 95.1% |
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 43 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .510 | 600gr | Barnes Solid RN. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,001 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,230 fps to 2,001 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 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, Bofors RP3 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .510 | 600gr | Barnes Solid RN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.