Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6 mm ARC (bolt action rifles only) with .243 | 85gr | Barnes XLC BT bullet and 71 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester StaBALL Match and Winchester 748.
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: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,086 psi | 90% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,100 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,737 psi | 87% | 2841 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,242 psi | 83% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,796 psi | 90% | 2923 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,796 psi | 90% | 2923 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,529 psi | 77% | 2805 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 2743 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 2756 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 2871 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,651 psi | 90% | 2897 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,925 psi | 87% | 2943 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,984 psi | 89% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,680 psi | 90% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,100 psi | 89% | 2779 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,156 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2923 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,707 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,013 psi | 89% | 2894 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,635 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,211 psi | 78% | 2838 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,562 psi | 54% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,850 psi | 82% | 2818 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,893 psi | 80% | 2871 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,492 psi | 89% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,590 psi | 83% | 2881 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,302 psi | 88% | 2861 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,693 psi | 87% | 2841 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2917 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,027 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,676 psi | 80% | 2799 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 2884 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 2894 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,765 psi | 85% | 2867 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2848 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,794 psi | 55% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,214 psi | 86% | 2841 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,469 psi | 72% | 2799 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,040 psi | 86% | 2828 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,302 psi | 88% | 2861 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2917 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,676 psi | 80% | 2799 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,101 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,695 psi | 90% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2887 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2799 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,979 psi | 77% | 2700 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,418 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,389 psi | 88% | 2864 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,911 psi | 87% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,691 psi | 82% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,938 psi | 84% | 2818 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,055 psi | 86% | 2851 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,459 psi | 83% | 2841 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,678 psi | 85% | 2897 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 2887 fps | 96.7% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,530 psi | 80% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,592 psi | 56% | 2464 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,912 psi | 60% | 2530 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,050 psi | 45% | 2359 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,391 psi | 60% | 2598 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,391 psi | 60% | 2598 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,228 psi | 54% | 2510 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,076 psi | 68% | 2549 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,424 psi | 68% | 2556 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,662 psi | 82% | 2828 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,585 psi | 74% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 65% | 2631 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,860 psi | 72% | 2697 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,285 psi | 50% | 2470 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 25.2 gr | 88% | 47,805 psi | 77% | 2838 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,088 psi | 63% | 2575 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,644 psi | 75% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,553 psi | 65% | 2536 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,119 psi | 68% | 2598 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,003 psi | 68% | 2700 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,606 psi | 56% | 2503 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 64% | 2625 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,714 psi | 71% | 2595 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,892 psi | 77% | 2785 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,818 psi | 74% | 2792 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,135 psi | 41% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,805 psi | 77% | 2766 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,544 psi | 48% | 2425 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,639 psi | 64% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,472 psi | 78% | 2825 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,860 psi | 72% | 2697 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,251 psi | 71% | 2687 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,276 psi | 63% | 2582 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,391 psi | 60% | 2598 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,256 psi | 83% | 2644 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,168 psi | 79% | 2720 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,280 psi | 71% | 2700 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,483 psi | 72% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,599 psi | 72% | 2690 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,461 psi | 56% | 2503 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,052 psi | 79% | 2805 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,214 psi | 84% | 2795 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,469 psi | 41% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,576 psi | 85% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,334 psi | 63% | 2585 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,814 psi | 67% | 2740 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,027 psi | 56% | 2464 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,454 psi | 72% | 2677 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,251 psi | 71% | 2687 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,391 psi | 60% | 2598 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,280 psi | 71% | 2700 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,599 psi | 72% | 2648 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,181 psi | 76% | 2434 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,278 psi | 67% | 2644 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,870 psi | 63% | 2569 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,965 psi | 79% | 2792 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,983 psi | 56% | 2428 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,995 psi | 52% | 2379 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,453 psi | 68% | 2674 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,590 psi | 53% | 2388 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 2812 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,699 psi | 69% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,564 psi | 59% | 2474 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,806 psi | 50% | 2352 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,905 psi | 45% | 2346 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,489 psi | 52% | 2438 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,150 psi | 71% | 2697 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,069 psi | 55% | 2497 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 26.5 gr | 86% | 41,046 psi | 66% | 2680 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | 28.7 gr | 88% | 46,673 psi | 75% | 2772 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 93 powders for 6 mm ARC (bolt action rifles only) loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes XLC BT. ReloadSwiss RS 52 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,946 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,713 fps to 2,946 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 93 of the 93 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (427 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2208 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. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester StaBALL Match, Winchester 748 rank at the top here: for 6 mm ARC (bolt action rifles only) with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes XLC BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, 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.