Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .512 | 575gr | Peregrine VRG-2 bullet and 46 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 Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5.
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% | 34,693 psi | 85% | 1932 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 1995 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,984 psi | 89% | 2024 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,984 psi | 89% | 2024 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,809 psi | 86% | 2018 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,230 psi | 89% | 2001 fps | 96% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,201 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,521 psi | 90% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,302 psi | 87% | 2014 fps | 96.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,695 psi | 90% | 2051 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,506 psi | 90% | 1946 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,853 psi | 88% | 2028 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,824 psi | 88% | 1985 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,419 psi | 90% | 2011 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 2021 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,098 psi | 82% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,882 psi | 86% | 1969 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,027 psi | 89% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,708 psi | 85% | 2008 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,201 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,984 psi | 89% | 2024 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,708 psi | 88% | 1929 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,694 psi | 88% | 1988 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,288 psi | 87% | 1969 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,273 psi | 87% | 1985 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,607 psi | 88% | 2018 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,069 psi | 81% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,882 psi | 88% | 2080 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 1972 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,505 psi | 87% | 1965 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 2041 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,984 psi | 89% | 2024 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,694 psi | 88% | 1988 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,505 psi | 87% | 1913 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,548 psi | 85% | 1916 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,969 psi | 89% | 1998 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,563 psi | 85% | 1916 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,795 psi | 88% | 2011 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,389 psi | 87% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,187 psi | 89% | 2001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,534 psi | 88% | 1972 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,695 psi | 90% | 2008 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,998 psi | 89% | 1975 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,434 psi | 90% | 2001 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,332 psi | 89% | 1985 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,896 psi | 86% | 2008 fps | 98% |
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% | 32,372 psi | 80% | 1893 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,366 psi | 60% | 1804 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 71% | 1900 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 71% | 1900 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,177 psi | 57% | 1781 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,968 psi | 84% | 1962 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,778 psi | 78% | 1900 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 74% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | 82.3 gr | 88% | 31,082 psi | 77% | 1936 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,834 psi | 73% | 1929 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 84% | 1906 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,022 psi | 71% | 1900 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,475 psi | 82% | 1946 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,937 psi | 79% | 1929 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 83.5 gr | 86% | 30,560 psi | 75% | 1939 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,352 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,822 psi | 81% | 1929 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,107 psi | 64% | 1847 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,460 psi | 80% | 1969 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,778 psi | 78% | 1900 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 67% | 1860 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,504 psi | 83% | 1886 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,515 psi | 73% | 1873 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 72% | 1850 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 71% | 1870 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,228 psi | 82% | 1975 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,323 psi | 60% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 87.7 gr | 88% | 29,472 psi | 73% | 1942 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,140 psi | 79% | 1896 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,356 psi | 72% | 1850 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,894 psi | 79% | 1962 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 67% | 1860 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,515 psi | 73% | 1873 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,227 psi | 77% | 1841 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,150 psi | 62% | 1736 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,460 psi | 82% | 1955 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,472 psi | 75% | 1844 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,473 psi | 78% | 1936 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,169 psi | 77% | 1850 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,976 psi | 64% | 1818 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,383 psi | 67% | 1821 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,152 psi | 69% | 1850 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,488 psi | 78% | 1893 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,165 psi | 64% | 1808 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,069 psi | 84% | 1946 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,503 psi | 80% | 1965 fps | 97.3% |
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 75 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .512 | 575gr | Peregrine VRG-2. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,080 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,283 fps to 2,080 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 75 of the 75 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 72–90 %, 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, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .512 | 575gr | Peregrine VRG-2 they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, 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.