Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6 x 52 R BB2 with .243 | 85gr | Sierra VarmintKing bullet and 47 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Hodgdon LEVERevolution and Bofors RP3.
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: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,221 psi | 90% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,061 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,757 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2779 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2743 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,960 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,930 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,206 psi | 88% | 2867 fps | 96.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2799 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2697 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,627 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,569 psi | 89% | 2792 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,727 psi | 85% | 2802 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,866 psi | 71% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,089 psi | 86% | 2743 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2802 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2743 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 2759 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,250 psi | 90% | 2726 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2759 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,539 psi | 87% | 2740 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,278 psi | 86% | 2753 fps | 99% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2799 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,786 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,374 psi | 72% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,250 psi | 88% | 2887 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,714 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2733 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,524 psi | 87% | 2785 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,437 psi | 84% | 2759 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,003 psi | 88% | 2759 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,944 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2703 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,801 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,511 psi | 89% | 2792 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,086 psi | 77% | 2756 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,308 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,916 psi | 88% | 2740 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,017 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,756 psi | 87% | 2736 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,859 psi | 90% | 2772 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,641 psi | 89% | 2756 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,741 psi | 85% | 2782 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,670 psi | 89% | 2802 fps | 96.7% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,101 psi | 80% | 2638 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 64% | 2523 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,347 psi | 76% | 2657 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 60% | 2493 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,581 psi | 83% | 2720 fps | 95% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,999 psi | 77% | 2638 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,302 psi | 74% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,941 psi | 77% | 2687 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,595 psi | 83% | 2808 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | 30.2 gr | 88% | 36,289 psi | 76% | 2680 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,899 psi | 81% | 2641 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,563 psi | 72% | 2635 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,871 psi | 83% | 2736 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 30.5 gr | 86% | 38,174 psi | 80% | 2743 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,367 psi | 53% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,479 psi | 80% | 2687 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,446 psi | 70% | 2635 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,999 psi | 77% | 2638 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,880 psi | 69% | 2589 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,524 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,722 psi | 73% | 2598 fps | 95% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,361 psi | 76% | 2625 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,055 psi | 71% | 2592 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,479 psi | 82% | 2743 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,176 psi | 84% | 2680 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,222 psi | 53% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 31.3 gr | 88% | 34,505 psi | 72% | 2694 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 79% | 2644 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,883 psi | 77% | 2628 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,754 psi | 81% | 2730 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,880 psi | 69% | 2589 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,722 psi | 73% | 2598 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,042 psi | 75% | 2559 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,370 psi | 61% | 2411 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,247 psi | 82% | 2710 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,549 psi | 74% | 2562 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,565 psi | 78% | 2687 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,722 psi | 73% | 2694 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,042 psi | 75% | 2569 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,140 psi | 65% | 2530 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,300 psi | 67% | 2530 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,692 psi | 70% | 2575 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,825 psi | 77% | 2631 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,111 psi | 65% | 2510 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,030 psi | 84% | 2703 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,288 psi | 74% | 2657 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,405 psi | 78% | 2690 fps | 95% |
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 47 powders for 6 x 52 R BB2 loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Sierra VarmintKing. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,887 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,814 fps to 2,887 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 47 of the 47 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 71–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 85.0 gr projectile in 0.243" calls for a 1:11.0 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, Hodgdon LEVERevolution, Bofors RP3 rank at the top here: for 6 x 52 R BB2 with the .243 | 85gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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.