Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .511 | 625gr | Peregrine VRG-2 bullet and 53 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon LEVERevolution 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% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,288 psi | 87% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,418 psi | 87% | 1923 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,592 psi | 85% | 1873 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 1850 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,824 psi | 86% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 1923 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,303 psi | 89% | 1975 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,954 psi | 86% | 1923 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,550 psi | 90% | 1936 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,448 psi | 90% | 1890 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,737 psi | 86% | 1883 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,404 psi | 87% | 1932 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,286 psi | 82% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,447 psi | 87% | 1877 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 1942 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,346 psi | 87% | 1919 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 1850 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,260 psi | 89% | 1837 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,347 psi | 90% | 1900 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,839 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 1893 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 1926 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 1932 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,491 psi | 87% | 1896 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,315 psi | 82% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,839 psi | 88% | 1962 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,506 psi | 90% | 1988 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 1844 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,216 psi | 89% | 1877 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,882 psi | 86% | 1913 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,347 psi | 90% | 1900 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,143 psi | 87% | 1919 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,578 psi | 88% | 1890 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 1821 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,143 psi | 87% | 1824 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 1906 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,186 psi | 87% | 1824 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 1896 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 1923 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,372 psi | 77% | 1896 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,548 psi | 85% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,289 psi | 89% | 1880 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 1877 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,695 psi | 90% | 1883 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,650 psi | 85% | 1873 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,577 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,447 psi | 87% | 1916 fps | 98.6% |
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% | 33,025 psi | 81% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,961 psi | 61% | 1722 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 73% | 1811 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 73% | 1811 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,757 psi | 59% | 1706 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,416 psi | 80% | 1834 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,329 psi | 80% | 1811 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,429 psi | 75% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,689 psi | 73% | 1811 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,908 psi | 79% | 1893 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP3 | 78.2 gr | 86% | 28,413 psi | 70% | 1804 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,559 psi | 73% | 1814 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,055 psi | 84% | 1854 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,458 psi | 75% | 1804 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 77.2 gr | 84% | 29,211 psi | 72% | 1814 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,453 psi | 60% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,386 psi | 77% | 1804 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,571 psi | 65% | 1762 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,995 psi | 76% | 1841 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,329 psi | 80% | 1811 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,659 psi | 68% | 1775 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,039 psi | 79% | 1765 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,123 psi | 69% | 1752 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,617 psi | 73% | 1768 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 73% | 1785 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,720 psi | 78% | 1847 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,982 psi | 84% | 1893 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,185 psi | 82% | 1857 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,482 psi | 60% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,576 psi | 83% | 1923 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 81.1 gr | 86% | 28,065 psi | 69% | 1818 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,721 psi | 81% | 1808 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,123 psi | 69% | 1732 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,485 psi | 70% | 1798 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,659 psi | 68% | 1775 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,123 psi | 69% | 1752 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,054 psi | 81% | 1883 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,257 psi | 82% | 1850 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,720 psi | 78% | 1752 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,585 psi | 63% | 1657 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 84% | 1867 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,009 psi | 76% | 1759 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,142 psi | 84% | 1857 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,052 psi | 74% | 1811 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,789 psi | 68% | 1818 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,705 psi | 78% | 1759 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,484 psi | 65% | 1732 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 69% | 1739 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,890 psi | 66% | 1732 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 79% | 1804 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,629 psi | 66% | 1729 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,445 psi | 80% | 1824 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,127 psi | 82% | 1877 fps | 98% |
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 78 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .511 | 625gr | Peregrine VRG-2. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,988 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,211 fps to 1,988 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 78 of the 78 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 73–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 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, Hodgdon LEVERevolution, Bofors RP3 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .511 | 625gr | Peregrine VRG-2 they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, Alliant Reloder-16 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.