Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6 mm ARC with .243 | 85gr | Barnes Solid BT bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester 748, Alliant AR-Comp and Hodgdon BL-C2.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,614 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,730 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,615 psi | 90% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,961 psi | 85% | 2799 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,553 psi | 78% | 2759 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,585 psi | 86% | 2651 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,020 psi | 87% | 2661 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,586 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,498 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,948 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,759 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,427 psi | 89% | 2877 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,512 psi | 85% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,962 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,208 psi | 87% | 2684 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,905 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,804 psi | 90% | 2858 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,020 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,702 psi | 90% | 2825 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,411 psi | 87% | 2687 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,832 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,474 psi | 62% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,934 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,614 psi | 86% | 2851 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,919 psi | 88% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,948 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,890 psi | 88% | 2785 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,947 psi | 86% | 2769 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,774 psi | 88% | 2835 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,759 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,077 psi | 85% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,324 psi | 85% | 2756 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,527 psi | 86% | 2785 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,474 psi | 62% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,658 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 97.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,469 psi | 87% | 2769 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,672 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,890 psi | 88% | 2785 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,774 psi | 88% | 2835 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,759 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,267 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,905 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,165 psi | 87% | 2789 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,803 psi | 88% | 2762 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,773 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,308 psi | 83% | 2684 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,499 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,050 psi | 88% | 2740 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,238 psi | 89% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,688 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,948 psi | 88% | 2733 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,832 psi | 88% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,949 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,223 psi | 87% | 2785 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,992 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,150 psi | 87% | 2831 fps | 97.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 58% | 2434 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,824 psi | 67% | 2559 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,932 psi | 48% | 2379 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,592 psi | 68% | 2631 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,241 psi | 60% | 2549 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,407 psi | 76% | 2552 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 77% | 2562 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,901 psi | 79% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,056 psi | 69% | 2612 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,975 psi | 83% | 2730 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 21.9 gr | 80% | 27,412 psi | 53% | 2441 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,772 psi | 84% | 2828 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 66% | 2546 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,438 psi | 82% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,912 psi | 71% | 2526 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,712 psi | 78% | 2638 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 27.1 gr | 90% | 38,159 psi | 73% | 2687 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 59% | 2477 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,534 psi | 68% | 2602 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,030 psi | 77% | 2582 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,323 psi | 83% | 2772 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,888 psi | 46% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,411 psi | 85% | 2762 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,892 psi | 55% | 2490 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,289 psi | 70% | 2549 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,975 psi | 83% | 2730 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 77% | 2671 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,102 psi | 75% | 2657 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,751 psi | 67% | 2618 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,814 psi | 80% | 2726 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,783 psi | 74% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,872 psi | 80% | 2710 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,169 psi | 62% | 2523 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,033 psi | 46% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,623 psi | 72% | 2621 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,924 psi | 65% | 2526 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,221 psi | 81% | 2707 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 77% | 2671 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,751 psi | 67% | 2618 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,814 psi | 80% | 2726 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,207 psi | 83% | 2690 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,830 psi | 84% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 71% | 2625 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 69% | 2566 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,634 psi | 63% | 2444 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,849 psi | 57% | 2395 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,596 psi | 78% | 2707 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,081 psi | 58% | 2405 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,261 psi | 73% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,271 psi | 62% | 2448 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,847 psi | 52% | 2316 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,511 psi | 47% | 2320 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,140 psi | 62% | 2503 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,670 psi | 82% | 2736 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,808 psi | 65% | 2566 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | 26.8 gr | 88% | 39,436 psi | 76% | 2717 fps | 95.7% |
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 86 powders for 6 mm ARC loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes Solid BT. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,877 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,726 fps to 2,877 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 86 of the 86 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (359 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 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. Winchester 748, Alliant AR-Comp, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for 6 mm ARC with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes Solid BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, ADI AR 2206H 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.