Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7 x 72 R with .284 | 173gr | Sellier & Bellot SPCE bullet and 21 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-16.
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>> | 90% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 2293 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,998 psi | 86% | 2257 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,432 psi | 85% | 2277 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,839 psi | 88% | 2313 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,274 psi | 89% | 2257 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,099 psi | 86% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,665 psi | 88% | 2257 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,954 psi | 86% | 2251 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,621 psi | 88% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 2333 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 2310 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,751 psi | 86% | 2205 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,795 psi | 88% | 2251 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,665 psi | 88% | 2208 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,244 psi | 87% | 2297 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,129 psi | 89% | 2195 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,608 psi | 90% | 2251 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,882 psi | 88% | 2254 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,447 psi | 85% | 2188 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,792 psi | 78% | 2297 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% | 31,894 psi | 79% | 2195 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 34.9 gr | 86% | 32,996 psi | 81% | 2211 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 75% | 2175 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,195 psi | 69% | 2123 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,413 psi | 70% | 2077 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,136 psi | 64% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,241 psi | 77% | 2162 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,619 psi | 80% | 2198 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,687 psi | 66% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,314 psi | 80% | 2234 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,082 psi | 79% | 2215 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,605 psi | 80% | 2159 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,460 psi | 82% | 2201 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 83% | 2165 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S365 | 33.2 gr | 80% | 24,366 psi | 60% | 2018 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,879 psi | 79% | 2113 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,140 psi | 79% | 2156 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,518 psi | 83% | 2205 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | 37.6 gr | 92% | 29,863 psi | 74% | 2192 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 70% | 2047 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,152 psi | 69% | 2188 fps | 95.6% |
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 21 powders for 7 x 72 R loaded with the .284 | 173gr | Sellier & Bellot SPCE. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,333 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,476 fps to 2,333 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 of the 21 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 78–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 173.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:11.5 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-16 rank at the top here: for 7 x 72 R with the .284 | 173gr | Sellier & Bellot SPCE 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.