Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6 mm ARC with .243 | 85gr | Barnes TSX BT bullet and 49 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Accurate 2520, Alliant AR-Comp and Hodgdon H322.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,934 psi | 88% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,267 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,295 psi | 85% | 2736 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,045 psi | 77% | 2713 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,831 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,260 psi | 72% | 2674 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,845 psi | 84% | 2618 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,324 psi | 85% | 2625 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,456 psi | 89% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,440 psi | 85% | 2759 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,716 psi | 88% | 2753 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,150 psi | 87% | 2812 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,746 psi | 90% | 2769 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,889 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,078 psi | 87% | 2657 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,166 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,498 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,137 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,036 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,701 psi | 88% | 2664 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,010 psi | 62% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,818 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,977 psi | 88% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,716 psi | 88% | 2753 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,860 psi | 86% | 2749 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,527 psi | 86% | 2736 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,498 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 97.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,557 psi | 90% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,876 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,952 psi | 61% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,803 psi | 88% | 2756 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,107 psi | 87% | 2740 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,860 psi | 86% | 2749 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,498 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,079 psi | 89% | 2454 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,701 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,281 psi | 87% | 2736 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,875 psi | 86% | 2671 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,567 psi | 78% | 2608 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,876 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,687 psi | 88% | 2710 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,630 psi | 90% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,976 psi | 86% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,007 psi | 90% | 2723 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,655 psi | 80% | 2723 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,150 psi | 85% | 2730 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,585 psi | 88% | 2746 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,714 psi | 82% | 2720 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,775 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 97.1% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,743 psi | 82% | 2602 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,601 psi | 53% | 2352 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,707 psi | 65% | 2520 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 24,424 psi | 47% | 2343 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | 25.4 gr | 90% | 36,071 psi | 69% | 2615 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,343 psi | 62% | 2562 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 70% | 2474 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 71% | 2480 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,421 psi | 74% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 65% | 2539 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,583 psi | 82% | 2697 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 20.7 gr | 80% | 25,353 psi | 49% | 2359 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,053 psi | 62% | 2477 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 76% | 2582 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,679 psi | 67% | 2457 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,611 psi | 78% | 2608 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,755 psi | 76% | 2703 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 21.4 gr | 80% | 31,024 psi | 60% | 2467 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,665 psi | 69% | 2585 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 78% | 2569 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,467 psi | 45% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,254 psi | 56% | 2477 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,127 psi | 66% | 2480 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,583 psi | 82% | 2697 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,143 psi | 70% | 2575 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,363 psi | 74% | 2618 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,622 psi | 70% | 2641 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,940 psi | 69% | 2549 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,026 psi | 65% | 2549 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,134 psi | 44% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,289 psi | 72% | 2592 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,505 psi | 68% | 2546 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,143 psi | 70% | 2575 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,622 psi | 70% | 2641 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,713 psi | 80% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,301 psi | 66% | 2543 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 63% | 2477 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,998 psi | 67% | 2477 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,749 psi | 61% | 2421 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,149 psi | 83% | 2733 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,589 psi | 61% | 2425 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,595 psi | 74% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 59% | 2392 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,643 psi | 51% | 2290 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,397 psi | 51% | 2369 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,213 psi | 62% | 2480 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,873 psi | 82% | 2694 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,273 psi | 68% | 2569 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,988 psi | 79% | 2723 fps | 95.6% |
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 49 powders for 6 mm ARC loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes TSX BT. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,848 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,696 fps to 2,848 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 49 of the 49 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (359 MPa), the top charges use 61–90 %, 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, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Accurate 2520, Alliant AR-Comp, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for 6 mm ARC with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes TSX BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.