Load data for 6 x 52 R BB2 + .243 | 85gr | Barnes X BT

6 x 52 R BB2 cartridge drawing
Barnes logo

Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Barnes
Bullet Weight:85 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.243"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):2.04"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:40 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle (LR)
Barrel Length:23.62"
Max. allowed Pressure:47,862 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:9.5

Load data in caliber 6 x 52 R BB2 with .243 | 85gr | Barnes X BT bullet and 41 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Vihtavuori N135 and Shooters World Precision.

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: 23.62"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 2015<<locked>>82%42,482 psi89%2687 fps100%
Accurate 2495<<locked>>88%42,830 psi89%2746 fps100%
Accurate 2520<<locked>>82%41,408 psi87%2730 fps98.3%
Accurate 4064<<locked>>90%42,801 psi89%2772 fps99.3%
ADI Benchmark 8208<<locked>>82%40,814 psi85%2687 fps96.5%
Alliant AR-Comp<<locked>>84%42,119 psi88%2762 fps100%
Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5<<locked>>90%40,901 psi85%2736 fps96.2%
Bofors RP3<<locked>>90%40,814 psi85%2746 fps96.3%
Hodgdon Benchmark<<locked>>82%43,062 psi90%2690 fps97.6%
Hodgdon BL-C2<<locked>>84%41,771 psi87%2759 fps97.4%
Hodgdon H4895<<locked>>84%41,785 psi87%2740 fps96%
Hodgdon LEVERevolution<<locked>>88%42,424 psi89%2802 fps96.7%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%34,534 psi72%1798 fps100%
Hodgdon VARGET<<locked>>86%42,409 psi89%2736 fps96.1%
IMR 3031<<locked>>86%42,815 psi89%2805 fps99.9%
IMR 4895<<locked>>88%42,902 psi90%2789 fps95.8%
IMR 8208 XBR<<locked>>82%40,814 psi85%2687 fps96.5%
Lovex D073.6<<locked>>86%42,540 psi89%2762 fps98.6%
Lovex S062<<locked>>88%41,568 psi87%2717 fps96.8%
Norma 201<<locked>>84%41,205 psi86%2690 fps96.7%
Norma 202<<locked>>86%43,265 psi90%2756 fps99.1%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%34,795 psi73%1841 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 60<<locked>>92%41,118 psi86%2825 fps97.9%
Rottweil R 901<<locked>>82%42,975 psi90%2707 fps98.9%
Rottweil R 902<<locked>>86%41,394 psi86%2687 fps96.7%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>92%41,002 psi86%2740 fps96%
Shooters World Match Rifle<<locked>>86%42,540 psi89%2762 fps98.6%
Shooters World Precision<<locked>>88%41,568 psi87%2717 fps96.8%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000<<locked>>84%42,670 psi89%2661 fps99%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>90%41,568 psi87%2651 fps99.5%
Somchem S335<<locked>>84%42,206 psi88%2664 fps99.4%
Somchem S355<<locked>>92%41,771 psi87%2740 fps95.9%
Somchem S365ᴾ<<locked>>100%38,580 psi81%2753 fps96.2%
Vihtavuori N133<<locked>>84%42,366 psi89%2664 fps100%
Vihtavuori N135<<locked>>88%42,134 psi88%2733 fps100%
Vihtavuori N140<<locked>>86%40,770 psi85%2684 fps99%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>94%42,482 psi89%2730 fps97.6%
Vihtavuori N530<<locked>>82%40,799 psi85%2684 fps96.6%
Vihtavuori N540<<locked>>88%41,959 psi88%2723 fps98.8%
Winchester 748<<locked>>84%41,887 psi88%2772 fps97.8%
Winchester StaBALL Match<<locked>>86%41,263 psi86%2736 fps95.9%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 2015<<locked>>80%40,205 psi84%2641 fps99.9%
Accurate 2495<<locked>>80%33,866 psi71%2559 fps99.4%
Accurate 2520<<locked>>80%38,725 psi81%2674 fps97.8%
Accurate 4064<<locked>>80%31,908 psi67%2526 fps96.9%
ADI Benchmark 8208<<locked>>80%38,667 psi81%2641 fps95.8%
Alliant AR-Comp<<locked>>80%36,999 psi77%2661 fps100%
Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5<<locked>>88%38,609 psi81%2690 fps95.5%
Bofors RP3<<locked>>88%38,493 psi80%2694 fps95.6%
Hodgdon Benchmark<<locked>>80%40,799 psi85%2644 fps97.1%
Hodgdon BL-C2<<locked>>80%36,709 psi77%2651 fps96%
Hodgdon H4895<<locked>>82%39,204 psi82%2684 fps95.2%
Hodgdon LEVERevolution<<locked>>84%37,405 psi78%2690 fps95%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%25,802 psi54%1608 fps100%
Hodgdon VARGET<<locked>>84%40,132 psi84%2687 fps95.4%
IMR 3031<<locked>>80%35,578 psi74%2651 fps99.1%
IMR 4895<<locked>>86%40,205 psi84%2733 fps95%
IMR 8208 XBR<<locked>>80%38,667 psi81%2641 fps95.8%
Lovex D073.6<<locked>>80%35,288 psi74%2605 fps96.8%
Lovex S062<<locked>>84%36,912 psi77%2612 fps95.4%
Norma 201<<locked>>80%36,593 psi76%2589 fps95.2%
Norma 202<<locked>>80%35,940 psi75%2598 fps97.7%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%26,136 psi55%1650 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 6029.5 gr86%34,127 psi71%2641 fps95%
Rottweil R 901<<locked>>80%40,364 psi84%2654 fps98.4%
Rottweil R 902<<locked>>82%36,840 psi77%2585 fps95.3%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>90%38,392 psi80%2684 fps95.2%
Shooters World Match Rifle<<locked>>80%35,288 psi74%2605 fps96.8%
Shooters World Precision26.7 gr84%36,912 psi77%2612 fps95.4%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000<<locked>>80%37,753 psi79%2559 fps98%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>80%31,024 psi65%2418 fps97.2%
Somchem S335<<locked>>80%37,521 psi78%2569 fps98.7%
Somchem S355<<locked>>90%39,566 psi83%2694 fps95.3%
Somchem S365<<locked>>98%36,564 psi76%2703 fps95.4%
Vihtavuori N133<<locked>>80%37,507 psi78%2566 fps99.6%
Vihtavuori N13524.7 gr80%33,083 psi69%2539 fps99.2%
Vihtavuori N140<<locked>>80%34,127 psi71%2536 fps97.5%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>88%35,505 psi74%2582 fps95.5%
Vihtavuori N530<<locked>>80%38,218 psi80%2625 fps95.8%
Vihtavuori N540<<locked>>80%32,822 psi69%2516 fps96.5%
Winchester 748<<locked>>80%37,130 psi78%2667 fps96.4%
Winchester StaBALL Match<<locked>>84%39,073 psi82%2690 fps95.2%

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.

<<locked>> you need an access license to unlock this data.

This overview compares 41 powders for 6 x 52 R BB2 loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes X BT. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,825 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,798 fps to 2,825 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 41 of the 41 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.

Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 72–90 %, 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Somchem S365 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, Vihtavuori N135, Shooters World Precision rank at the top here: for 6 x 52 R BB2 with the .243 | 85gr | Barnes X 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.

← All load data