Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .512 | 625gr | Peregrine VRG-2 bullet and 52 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% | 35,172 psi | 87% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,259 psi | 87% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,650 psi | 88% | 1903 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,389 psi | 87% | 1923 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,548 psi | 85% | 1870 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,490 psi | 85% | 1847 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,780 psi | 86% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,969 psi | 89% | 1923 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,260 psi | 89% | 1975 fps | 96.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,867 psi | 86% | 1919 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 1936 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,679 psi | 85% | 1880 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,230 psi | 87% | 1929 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,330 psi | 82% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,172 psi | 89% | 1890 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,360 psi | 87% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,317 psi | 87% | 1916 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,490 psi | 85% | 1847 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,230 psi | 89% | 1837 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1896 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,781 psi | 88% | 1873 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,926 psi | 88% | 1890 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,100 psi | 89% | 1923 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,260 psi | 89% | 1932 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,462 psi | 87% | 1896 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,214 psi | 82% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,824 psi | 88% | 1959 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,376 psi | 90% | 1985 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,737 psi | 86% | 1841 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,187 psi | 89% | 1877 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,809 psi | 86% | 1909 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1896 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 1919 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,389 psi | 87% | 1886 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,013 psi | 89% | 1821 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 1824 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,448 psi | 90% | 1903 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,143 psi | 87% | 1824 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,506 psi | 90% | 1896 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,463 psi | 90% | 1919 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,357 psi | 77% | 1893 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,911 psi | 88% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,519 psi | 85% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,245 psi | 89% | 1880 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,882 psi | 86% | 1877 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,521 psi | 90% | 1880 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,621 psi | 85% | 1870 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,577 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,041 psi | 86% | 1909 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,418 psi | 85% | 1886 fps | 96.8% |
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% | 32,967 psi | 81% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,918 psi | 61% | 1722 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,879 psi | 76% | 1824 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,714 psi | 58% | 1703 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,372 psi | 80% | 1834 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,300 psi | 80% | 1811 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,385 psi | 75% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,660 psi | 73% | 1811 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,807 psi | 78% | 1890 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP3 | 78.1 gr | 86% | 28,384 psi | 70% | 1804 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 73% | 1814 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 75% | 1804 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 76.9 gr | 82% | 28,993 psi | 71% | 1808 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,482 psi | 60% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,792 psi | 78% | 1811 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,964 psi | 71% | 1811 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,922 psi | 76% | 1837 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,300 psi | 80% | 1811 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 68% | 1775 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 79% | 1765 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,079 psi | 69% | 1752 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,573 psi | 73% | 1765 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 73% | 1781 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,676 psi | 78% | 1847 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,968 psi | 84% | 1893 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,156 psi | 82% | 1857 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,511 psi | 60% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,446 psi | 82% | 1919 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 81 gr | 86% | 28,050 psi | 69% | 1818 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,663 psi | 80% | 1808 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,079 psi | 69% | 1729 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,456 psi | 70% | 1798 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 68% | 1775 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,079 psi | 69% | 1752 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,895 psi | 81% | 1880 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,228 psi | 82% | 1850 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,691 psi | 78% | 1752 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,556 psi | 63% | 1654 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,069 psi | 84% | 1867 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,966 psi | 76% | 1755 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,127 psi | 84% | 1857 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,023 psi | 74% | 1811 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,644 psi | 68% | 1814 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,647 psi | 78% | 1759 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,440 psi | 65% | 1732 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,789 psi | 68% | 1736 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,861 psi | 66% | 1729 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,952 psi | 79% | 1804 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,600 psi | 66% | 1726 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,329 psi | 80% | 1821 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,661 psi | 76% | 1831 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,052 psi | 74% | 1808 fps | 95.2% |
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 77 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .512 | 625gr | Peregrine VRG-2. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,985 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,211 fps to 1,985 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 77 of the 77 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 77–90 %, 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 .512 | 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.