Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7 x 72 R with .284 | 180gr | Berger BT Target bullet and 23 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% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,824 psi | 86% | 2195 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,550 psi | 90% | 2264 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,360 psi | 87% | 2244 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,579 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 2192 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,288 psi | 87% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,882 psi | 88% | 2205 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,548 psi | 85% | 2185 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,491 psi | 87% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,593 psi | 90% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,071 psi | 89% | 2244 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,651 psi | 90% | 2185 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,549 psi | 88% | 2188 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,476 psi | 87% | 2149 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,998 psi | 86% | 2234 fps | 99.5% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,447 psi | 87% | 2188 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,347 psi | 90% | 2146 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,375 psi | 87% | 2165 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,897 psi | 88% | 2211 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,549 psi | 88% | 2264 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,405 psi | 90% | 2172 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,560 psi | 78% | 2238 fps | 98% |
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% | 31,705 psi | 78% | 2136 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 32.7 gr | 84% | 30,806 psi | 76% | 2103 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 74% | 2116 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,978 psi | 69% | 2067 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,113 psi | 84% | 2267 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,397 psi | 65% | 1972 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,266 psi | 65% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,849 psi | 74% | 2077 fps | 95% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,416 psi | 80% | 2139 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,527 psi | 65% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,053 psi | 79% | 2172 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,850 psi | 78% | 2156 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,430 psi | 80% | 2100 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,402 psi | 82% | 2142 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,286 psi | 82% | 2103 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S365 | 31.8 gr | 80% | 24,047 psi | 59% | 1959 fps | 95.4% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,272 psi | 82% | 2142 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 70% | 1985 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,169 psi | 77% | 2077 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,328 psi | 77% | 2113 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | 36.1 gr | 92% | 29,631 psi | 73% | 2133 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,065 psi | 69% | 1985 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,007 psi | 69% | 2133 fps | 95.9% |
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 23 powders for 7 x 72 R loaded with the .284 | 180gr | Berger BT Target. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,323 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,434 fps to 2,323 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 of the 23 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 180.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:10.0 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 | 180gr | Berger BT Target 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.