Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6 mm ARC with .243 | 90gr | Barnes X S bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Winchester 748 and ReloadSwiss RS 60.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,730 psi | 86% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,788 psi | 88% | 2677 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,528 psi | 89% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,019 psi | 85% | 2700 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,846 psi | 86% | 2713 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,527 psi | 88% | 2575 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,905 psi | 88% | 2585 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,976 psi | 86% | 2682 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,543 psi | 89% | 2690 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,643 psi | 86% | 2709 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,108 psi | 89% | 2772 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,818 psi | 88% | 2730 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,963 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,904 psi | 86% | 2577 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,265 psi | 83% | 2694 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,731 psi | 90% | 2646 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,441 psi | 89% | 2756 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,427 psi | 89% | 2708 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,585 psi | 86% | 2679 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,541 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,847 psi | 90% | 2785 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,722 psi | 67% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,137 psi | 89% | 2703 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,760 psi | 90% | 2773 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,253 psi | 89% | 2622 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,543 psi | 89% | 2689 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,266 psi | 85% | 2642 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,368 psi | 87% | 2715 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,862 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,601 psi | 89% | 2687 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,209 psi | 89% | 2705 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,253 psi | 89% | 2737 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,230 psi | 68% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,746 psi | 90% | 2693 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,816 psi | 84% | 2761 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,079 psi | 88% | 2656 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,891 psi | 90% | 2683 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,702 psi | 90% | 2725 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,368 psi | 87% | 2715 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,862 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,746 psi | 90% | 2650 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,021 psi | 88% | 2695 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,324 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,224 psi | 89% | 2613 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,831 psi | 86% | 2606 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,440 psi | 85% | 2674 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,324 psi | 87% | 2617 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,034 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,136 psi | 87% | 2593 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,846 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,325 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,324 psi | 87% | 2669 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,306 psi | 77% | 2584 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,354 psi | 89% | 2698 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,063 psi | 87% | 2691 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,050 psi | 88% | 2744 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,861 psi | 88% | 2721 fps | 96.2% |
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% | 35,650 psi | 69% | 2454 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,247 psi | 74% | 2530 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 55% | 2356 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,968 psi | 65% | 2490 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,414 psi | 58% | 2395 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,163 psi | 83% | 2533 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,511 psi | 84% | 2543 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 82% | 2638 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,566 psi | 76% | 2552 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,359 psi | 64% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,814 psi | 78% | 2664 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,828 psi | 78% | 2635 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,307 psi | 79% | 2573 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,380 psi | 81% | 2532 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,582 psi | 78% | 2642 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 72% | 2459 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,290 psi | 74% | 2595 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,622 psi | 70% | 2514 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 80% | 2628 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,351 psi | 81% | 2643 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,408 psi | 80% | 2677 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,773 psi | 49% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,758 psi | 84% | 2661 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | 21 gr | 80% | 29,849 psi | 57% | 2399 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,423 psi | 80% | 2538 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,566 psi | 76% | 2552 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,117 psi | 75% | 2541 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,359 psi | 64% | 2467 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,755 psi | 76% | 2573 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,537 psi | 76% | 2548 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,750 psi | 63% | 2424 fps | 96% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,932 psi | 84% | 2694 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,744 psi | 49% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,160 psi | 75% | 2546 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 27.1 gr | 92% | 36,927 psi | 71% | 2600 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 72% | 2477 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,871 psi | 77% | 2547 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,758 psi | 84% | 2681 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,359 psi | 64% | 2467 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,755 psi | 76% | 2573 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,263 psi | 79% | 2547 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,279 psi | 83% | 2644 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,030 psi | 77% | 2556 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,766 psi | 67% | 2384 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,514 psi | 55% | 2251 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,276 psi | 75% | 2570 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 66% | 2391 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,640 psi | 80% | 2635 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,595 psi | 74% | 2471 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,227 psi | 62% | 2349 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 55% | 2346 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,574 psi | 59% | 2352 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,579 psi | 72% | 2532 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,682 psi | 74% | 2547 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,894 psi | 61% | 2408 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | 24.1 gr | 80% | 35,679 psi | 69% | 2526 fps | 95% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,105 psi | 83% | 2668 fps | 95.5% |
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 82 powders for 6 mm ARC loaded with the .243 | 90gr | Barnes X S. ReloadSwiss RS 52 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,790 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,680 fps to 2,790 fps. Alliant Reloder-17 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 82 of the 82 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (359 MPa), the top charges use 67–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 90.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, 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. IMR 3031, Winchester 748, ReloadSwiss RS 60 rank at the top here: for 6 mm ARC with the .243 | 90gr | Barnes X S they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, Alliant Reloder-17 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.