Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7 x 72 R with .284 | 120gr | Speer Spitzer Soft Point bullet and 16 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, 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>> | 84% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 2644 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,911 psi | 86% | 2671 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,171 psi | 84% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,752 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,419 psi | 90% | 2648 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,289 psi | 89% | 2667 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,360 psi | 85% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,418 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,346 psi | 87% | 2579 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,622 psi | 90% | 2776 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,230 psi | 87% | 2648 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,521 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,737 psi | 88% | 2648 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,215 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 97.9% |
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% | 30,443 psi | 75% | 2539 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,805 psi | 71% | 2510 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 12.5 gr | 80% | 25,150 psi | 62% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,446 psi | 82% | 2657 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 81% | 2605 fps | 96.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,200 psi | 84% | 2592 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,055 psi | 84% | 2612 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 12.8 gr | 80% | 25,425 psi | 63% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 41.9 gr | 86% | 32,213 psi | 79% | 2654 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 81% | 2605 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,327 psi | 72% | 2431 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,461 psi | 85% | 2717 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,053 psi | 76% | 2546 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 79% | 2546 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,518 psi | 83% | 2592 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,908 psi | 76% | 2526 fps | 96.5% |
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 47 powders for 7 x 72 R loaded with the .284 | 120gr | Speer Spitzer Soft Point. Somchem S365 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,776 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,814 fps to 2,776 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 (280 MPa), the top charges use 84–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:14.5 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, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for 7 x 72 R with the .284 | 120gr | Speer Spitzer Soft Point they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR 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.