Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.21 Firebird with .284 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting bullet and 60 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76 and ReloadSwiss RS 80.
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: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,885 psi | 87% | 3363 fps | 100% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,014 psi | 85% | 3474 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,900 psi | 88% | 3465 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,551 psi | 86% | 3474 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,594 psi | 85% | 3442 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2218ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,856 psi | 87% | 3563 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2225ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 60,046 psi | 90% | 3530 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,711 psi | 88% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,276 psi | 87% | 3448 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,015 psi | 87% | 3468 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 59,785 psi | 90% | 3428 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,463 psi | 85% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,884 psi | 85% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 98% | 59,698 psi | 89% | 3540 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-50ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,405 psi | 83% | 3442 fps | 96.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,131 psi | 87% | 3419 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,232 psi | 86% | 3455 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,536 psi | 85% | 3455 fps | 99.7% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,015 psi | 87% | 3468 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,073 psi | 87% | 3468 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,362 psi | 84% | 3396 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 88% | 59,335 psi | 89% | 3448 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,914 psi | 88% | 3363 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 94% | 59,872 psi | 90% | 3606 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,637 psi | 56% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,072 psi | 86% | 3373 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,914 psi | 87% | 3379 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,710 psi | 85% | 3376 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 90% | 60,002 psi | 90% | 3524 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 8133 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,766 psi | 82% | 3432 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,277 psi | 89% | 3409 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 94% | 59,596 psi | 89% | 3389 fps | 100% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,682 psi | 88% | 3438 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 217ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,057 psi | 84% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,262 psi | 87% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,408 psi | 89% | 3428 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,305 psi | 86% | 3478 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,682 psi | 88% | 3435 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,956 psi | 84% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,595 psi | 58% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,029 psi | 85% | 3520 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,623 psi | 85% | 3474 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 86% | 59,263 psi | 89% | 3428 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,233 psi | 87% | 3445 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,277 psi | 89% | 3409 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,683 psi | 89% | 3356 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,827 psi | 87% | 3438 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,101 psi | 86% | 3346 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,363 psi | 86% | 3369 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,494 psi | 88% | 3402 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,711 psi | 88% | 3386 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,305 psi | 87% | 3399 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 60,278 psi | 90% | 3419 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,725 psi | 87% | 3402 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,566 psi | 86% | 3488 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,842 psi | 88% | 3474 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,768 psi | 85% | 3478 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,247 psi | 87% | 3547 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,420 psi | 85% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,726 psi | 88% | 3399 fps | 99.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,830 psi | 66% | 3107 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,701 psi | 69% | 3245 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,892 psi | 72% | 3261 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,076 psi | 65% | 3182 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,668 psi | 59% | 3084 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,603 psi | 74% | 3389 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,662 psi | 47% | 2897 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,810 psi | 82% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,747 psi | 72% | 3248 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,859 psi | 66% | 3189 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 64% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,927 psi | 55% | 3045 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,675 psi | 73% | 3317 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,256 psi | 77% | 3379 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,213 psi | 77% | 3360 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,718 psi | 72% | 3219 fps | 95.3% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,799 psi | 61% | 3117 fps | 97.1% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,985 psi | 55% | 3028 fps | 95% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,859 psi | 66% | 3189 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,579 psi | 56% | 3035 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,745 psi | 69% | 3186 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,860 psi | 67% | 3166 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,576 psi | 77% | 3248 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | 84.7 gr | 80% | 36,042 psi | 54% | 3081 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,210 psi | 42% | 2044 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,505 psi | 80% | 3310 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,186 psi | 81% | 3320 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,673 psi | 70% | 3182 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 63% | 3163 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,508 psi | 58% | 3081 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,579 psi | 83% | 3346 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 57% | 2966 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 204 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,694 psi | 82% | 3369 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,765 psi | 51% | 2966 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,847 psi | 70% | 3274 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,579 psi | 83% | 3366 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,134 psi | 63% | 3173 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,810 psi | 82% | 3369 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,029 psi | 57% | 3028 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 43% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | 90.6 gr | 80% | 35,520 psi | 53% | 3048 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | 98.2 gr | 86% | 41,278 psi | 62% | 3153 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,515 psi | 73% | 3228 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,398 psi | 71% | 3238 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,579 psi | 83% | 3346 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,927 psi | 84% | 3294 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,050 psi | 71% | 3232 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S361 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,821 psi | 75% | 3212 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,577 psi | 80% | 3314 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,805 psi | 72% | 3209 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,756 psi | 63% | 3064 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,404 psi | 82% | 3327 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 56,507 psi | 85% | 3360 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,239 psi | 71% | 3222 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,456 psi | 70% | 3264 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,495 psi | 62% | 3120 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,556 psi | 68% | 3248 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,183 psi | 75% | 3386 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,191 psi | 62% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,266 psi | 66% | 3130 fps | 98.2% |
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 67 powders for 7.21 Firebird loaded with the .284 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting. Hodgdon Retumbo delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,606 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,274 fps to 3,606 fps. Accurate 8700 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (460 MPa), the top charges use 56–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 120.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 8700, ADI AR 2218, ADI AR 2225 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. Hodgdon Retumbo, ReloadSwiss RS 76, ReloadSwiss RS 80 rank at the top here: for 7.21 Firebird with the .284 | 120gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 8700, IMR 7977 Enduron, Lovex D100 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.