Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .512 | 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 Vihtavuori N135.
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% | 34,389 psi | 85% | 2090 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,635 psi | 85% | 2116 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,390 psi | 90% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 2156 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 2215 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,216 psi | 89% | 2139 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,172 psi | 89% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 2208 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,550 psi | 90% | 2103 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,708 psi | 88% | 2188 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 2156 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,506 psi | 90% | 2169 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,619 psi | 80% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 2182 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,216 psi | 89% | 2139 fps | 96% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,461 psi | 85% | 2116 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,650 psi | 88% | 2182 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,433 psi | 87% | 2146 fps | 96% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,128 psi | 87% | 2123 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,085 psi | 86% | 2146 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,590 psi | 80% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 2136 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,984 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 2133 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,389 psi | 87% | 2123 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,650 psi | 88% | 2182 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,433 psi | 87% | 2146 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,520 psi | 87% | 2070 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 2110 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,897 psi | 88% | 2159 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,724 psi | 90% | 2113 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,737 psi | 88% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,273 psi | 87% | 2080 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,723 psi | 88% | 2162 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,476 psi | 87% | 2133 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,434 psi | 90% | 2159 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 2133 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,361 psi | 90% | 2162 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,563 psi | 85% | 2162 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% | 30,182 psi | 74% | 2011 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,300 psi | 80% | 2073 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,263 psi | 55% | 1900 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,065 psi | 69% | 2021 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | 82.5 gr | 84% | 24,308 psi | 60% | 1959 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,924 psi | 84% | 2096 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,775 psi | 68% | 2031 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,852 psi | 83% | 2162 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,300 psi | 80% | 2021 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,009 psi | 76% | 2096 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,779 psi | 83% | 2113 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 84% | 2126 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,018 psi | 59% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 77.6 gr | 80% | 26,513 psi | 65% | 2008 fps | 97.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,924 psi | 84% | 2096 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 79% | 2067 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,790 psi | 71% | 2047 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,272 psi | 82% | 2103 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,880 psi | 81% | 2080 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,934 psi | 66% | 1975 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,888 psi | 59% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,649 psi | 83% | 2093 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,575 psi | 78% | 2133 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,066 psi | 74% | 2011 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,272 psi | 82% | 2083 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,790 psi | 71% | 2047 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,272 psi | 82% | 2103 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 72% | 1952 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 25,135 psi | 62% | 1877 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,562 psi | 83% | 2113 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 70% | 1955 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 83% | 2037 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,124 psi | 72% | 1965 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | 75.9 gr | 80% | 24,047 psi | 59% | 1919 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,570 psi | 63% | 1923 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,908 psi | 79% | 2073 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,620 psi | 83% | 2090 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,833 psi | 69% | 1991 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,300 psi | 80% | 2116 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 70 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .512 | 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 1,394 fps to 2,231 fps. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 70 of the 70 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, Vihtavuori N135 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .512 | 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.