Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 6 x 52 R Bretschneider with .243 | 85gr | Sierra VarmintKing bullet and 45 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Accurate 2495 and Alliant AR-Comp.
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>> | 88% | 41,031 psi | 86% | 2631 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,119 psi | 88% | 2674 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,771 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,308 psi | 88% | 2717 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,727 psi | 87% | 2730 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,192 psi | 90% | 2595 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,002 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,178 psi | 90% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,582 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,800 psi | 87% | 2585 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,830 psi | 89% | 2641 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,134 psi | 90% | 2749 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,873 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,785 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,098 psi | 69% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,191 psi | 86% | 2740 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,062 psi | 90% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,902 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,684 psi | 87% | 2664 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,859 psi | 90% | 2736 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,901 psi | 88% | 2684 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,974 psi | 88% | 2671 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,626 psi | 87% | 2690 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,170 psi | 69% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2684 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,004 psi | 90% | 2799 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,279 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,322 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,859 psi | 90% | 2736 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,901 psi | 88% | 2684 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,814 psi | 87% | 2684 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,989 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,119 psi | 88% | 2608 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,105 psi | 90% | 2641 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,975 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,828 psi | 85% | 2605 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,163 psi | 88% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,698 psi | 87% | 2615 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,612 psi | 89% | 2713 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,887 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,611 psi | 85% | 2651 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,120 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,265 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,249 psi | 86% | 2713 fps | 96.5% |
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% | 31,923 psi | 67% | 2438 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,026 psi | 71% | 2503 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | 22.5 gr | 80% | 24,410 psi | 51% | 2303 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,374 psi | 72% | 2552 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,892 psi | 62% | 2467 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,422 psi | 84% | 2543 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,247 psi | 80% | 2621 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,205 psi | 84% | 2631 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 22.2 gr | 80% | 29,022 psi | 61% | 2448 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,637 psi | 77% | 2559 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 81% | 2530 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,087 psi | 80% | 2543 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,246 psi | 78% | 2628 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,273 psi | 74% | 2552 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 75% | 2562 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,163 psi | 50% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 22.2 gr | 80% | 27,862 psi | 58% | 2418 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,927 psi | 79% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,205 psi | 84% | 2631 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,419 psi | 76% | 2556 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,186 psi | 74% | 2582 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,697 psi | 83% | 2641 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,291 psi | 82% | 2615 fps | 95% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,460 psi | 68% | 2490 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,352 psi | 51% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,882 psi | 73% | 2520 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,335 psi | 84% | 2740 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,069 psi | 71% | 2487 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,566 psi | 83% | 2612 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,186 psi | 74% | 2582 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,697 psi | 83% | 2641 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,131 psi | 82% | 2631 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,941 psi | 77% | 2556 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,764 psi | 68% | 2408 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,950 psi | 63% | 2359 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,219 psi | 84% | 2657 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,081 psi | 63% | 2362 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 73% | 2464 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 63% | 2372 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,440 psi | 53% | 2316 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,647 psi | 64% | 2421 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,334 psi | 80% | 2605 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,277 psi | 84% | 2628 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,228 psi | 69% | 2500 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,595 psi | 81% | 2657 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 45 powders for 6 x 52 R Bretschneider loaded with the .243 | 85gr | Sierra VarmintKing. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,799 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,726 fps to 2,799 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 45 of the 45 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (330 MPa), the top charges use 69–90 %, 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, ReloadSwiss RS 60 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, Accurate 2495, Alliant AR-Comp rank at the top here: for 6 x 52 R Bretschneider 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.