Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7 x 72 R with .284 | 120gr | Barnes X BT bullet and 12 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,041 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,143 psi | 87% | 2621 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,418 psi | 85% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 2677 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,766 psi | 86% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,621 psi | 88% | 2700 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 90% | 2654 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,347 psi | 90% | 2556 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,695 psi | 90% | 2635 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,998 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 2589 fps | 97.4% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,112 psi | 82% | 2552 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,299 psi | 77% | 2526 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 11.9 gr | 80% | 25,875 psi | 64% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,053 psi | 79% | 2575 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 85% | 2598 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 12.1 gr | 80% | 26,005 psi | 64% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,388 psi | 82% | 2635 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 85% | 2598 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 75% | 2415 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 80% | 2536 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,127 psi | 82% | 2526 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,706 psi | 81% | 2539 fps | 96.8% |
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 39 powders for 7 x 72 R loaded with the .284 | 120gr | Barnes X BT. Accurate 4350 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,700 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,785 fps to 2,700 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 39 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 85–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4831, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for 7 x 72 R with the .284 | 120gr | Barnes X BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 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.