Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7 x 72 R with .284 | 165gr | Geco SOFTPOINT bullet and 20 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Somchem S365, Vihtavuori N555 and Alliant Reloder-23.
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 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,447 psi | 87% | 2339 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,780 psi | 86% | 2356 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 2392 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,622 psi | 90% | 2333 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,360 psi | 87% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,447 psi | 85% | 2303 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,375 psi | 87% | 2329 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,839 psi | 88% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 2362 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,273 psi | 87% | 2283 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,114 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,187 psi | 89% | 2290 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,752 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,925 psi | 86% | 2247 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,172 psi | 89% | 2310 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,434 psi | 90% | 2346 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,550 psi | 90% | 2411 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,853 psi | 86% | 2264 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,401 psi | 80% | 2382 fps | 97.8% |
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 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,445 psi | 80% | 2274 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,272 psi | 82% | 2287 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 75% | 2251 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | 39.5 gr | 92% | 28,631 psi | 71% | 2201 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,572 psi | 70% | 2146 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,208 psi | 65% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,460 psi | 80% | 2257 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,156 psi | 82% | 2280 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,426 psi | 65% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,576 psi | 80% | 2313 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,953 psi | 81% | 2234 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 83% | 2277 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 83% | 2241 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S365 | 34.9 gr | 80% | 24,555 psi | 60% | 2087 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,964 psi | 71% | 2113 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,881 psi | 83% | 2260 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,113 psi | 84% | 2297 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | 39.5 gr | 92% | 30,182 psi | 74% | 2264 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 70% | 2116 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,601 psi | 70% | 2267 fps | 95.5% |
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 20 powders for 7 x 72 R loaded with the .284 | 165gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. Vihtavuori N555 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,411 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,539 fps to 2,411 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 20 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 80–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 165.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:13.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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. Somchem S365, Vihtavuori N555, Alliant Reloder-23 rank at the top here: for 7 x 72 R with the .284 | 165gr | Geco SOFTPOINT 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.