Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .511 | 500gr | Peregrine VRG-3 bullet and 39 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, 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>> | 84% | 34,447 psi | 85% | 2093 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,708 psi | 85% | 2119 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,477 psi | 90% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,867 psi | 86% | 2159 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,448 psi | 90% | 2211 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 2139 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,245 psi | 89% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,332 psi | 89% | 2208 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 2106 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,766 psi | 88% | 2188 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,245 psi | 89% | 2159 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,564 psi | 90% | 2169 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,721 psi | 81% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,490 psi | 85% | 2182 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 2139 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,505 psi | 85% | 2116 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,694 psi | 88% | 2185 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,476 psi | 87% | 2146 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,157 psi | 87% | 2126 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,157 psi | 87% | 2146 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,547 psi | 80% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,984 psi | 89% | 2136 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,042 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,303 psi | 89% | 2133 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,462 psi | 87% | 2123 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,694 psi | 88% | 2185 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,476 psi | 87% | 2146 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,607 psi | 88% | 2073 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,476 psi | 85% | 2070 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,969 psi | 89% | 2159 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,519 psi | 85% | 2073 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 2077 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,360 psi | 87% | 2080 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 2165 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,433 psi | 87% | 2129 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2162 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,013 psi | 89% | 2133 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,289 psi | 89% | 2162 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,505 psi | 85% | 2159 fps | 96.6% |
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% | 30,255 psi | 75% | 2014 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,372 psi | 80% | 2073 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | 78.6 gr | 80% | 22,249 psi | 55% | 1900 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,992 psi | 69% | 2018 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | 82.6 gr | 84% | 24,381 psi | 60% | 1962 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,997 psi | 84% | 2096 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,746 psi | 68% | 2031 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,924 psi | 84% | 2165 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 79% | 2021 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,067 psi | 77% | 2096 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 83% | 2116 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,142 psi | 84% | 2126 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,989 psi | 59% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 77.7 gr | 80% | 26,571 psi | 65% | 2008 fps | 97.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,997 psi | 84% | 2096 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,068 psi | 79% | 2070 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,863 psi | 71% | 2051 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,330 psi | 82% | 2106 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,953 psi | 81% | 2083 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,963 psi | 66% | 1975 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,859 psi | 59% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,576 psi | 83% | 2090 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,750 psi | 83% | 2185 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,153 psi | 74% | 2011 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,199 psi | 82% | 2080 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,863 psi | 71% | 2051 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,330 psi | 82% | 2106 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,341 psi | 72% | 1952 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,641 psi | 58% | 1837 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,489 psi | 82% | 2113 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 70% | 1955 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 83% | 2037 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 72% | 1965 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,105 psi | 59% | 1923 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,585 psi | 63% | 1923 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,966 psi | 79% | 2077 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,692 psi | 83% | 2090 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,891 psi | 69% | 1995 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,256 psi | 79% | 2113 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 71 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .511 | 500gr | Peregrine VRG-3. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,231 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,398 fps to 2,231 fps. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 71 of the 71 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 71–90 %, 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. IMR 3031, Accurate 4064, Accurate 2495 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .511 | 500gr | Peregrine VRG-3 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.