Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.21 Firebird with .284 | 154gr | Norma Soft Point bullet and 50 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2218, Vihtavuori N570 and Alliant Reloder-33.
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>> | 84% | 58,711 psi | 88% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 8700ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,637 psi | 83% | 3117 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,131 psi | 87% | 3186 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,422 psi | 89% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,639 psi | 88% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,624 psi | 88% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2218 | <<locked>> | 96% | 59,930 psi | 90% | 3314 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,653 psi | 88% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,856 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 84% | 59,205 psi | 89% | 3169 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,377 psi | 86% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,697 psi | 88% | 3150 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,682 psi | 86% | 3212 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,233 psi | 87% | 3209 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,552 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 99.5% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,566 psi | 88% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,668 psi | 88% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 59,205 psi | 89% | 3169 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 60,118 psi | 90% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,811 psi | 85% | 3100 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 84% | 59,814 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,813 psi | 88% | 3255 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,130 psi | 57% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 60,350 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,276 psi | 86% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 59,234 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,537 psi | 86% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,276 psi | 86% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 96% | 59,393 psi | 89% | 3199 fps | 100% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,393 psi | 89% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 84% | 59,132 psi | 89% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot LRT | <<locked>> | 96% | 59,219 psi | 89% | 3232 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,435 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,233 psi | 59% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 88% | 59,814 psi | 90% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,871 psi | 88% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,292 psi | 89% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,943 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,261 psi | 86% | 3127 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,581 psi | 88% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,176 psi | 89% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 86% | 59,422 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 90% | 59,117 psi | 89% | 3130 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 82% | 59,074 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,581 psi | 88% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,463 psi | 85% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,885 psi | 88% | 3212 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,550 psi | 85% | 3219 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 84% | 59,451 psi | 89% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 84% | 59,045 psi | 89% | 3097 fps | 100% |
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% | 51,459 psi | 77% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 8700 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,379 psi | 62% | 2844 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate MAGPRO | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,201 psi | 81% | 3117 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2209 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,521 psi | 83% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2213 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,995 psi | 76% | 3051 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,319 psi | 57% | 2785 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2218 | 95.1 gr | 86% | 41,031 psi | 62% | 2927 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2225 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,636 psi | 53% | 2759 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-19 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,288 psi | 83% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-22 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,721 psi | 78% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,415 psi | 76% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 67% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-33 | 94.6 gr | 84% | 42,714 psi | 64% | 2923 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-50 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,207 psi | 65% | 2920 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 109 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,051 psi | 72% | 2949 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,182 psi | 72% | 2986 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 62% | 2867 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,721 psi | 78% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,829 psi | 63% | 2867 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,113 psi | 80% | 3041 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4831 SC | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,243 psi | 78% | 3025 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Retumbo | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,845 psi | 66% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 43% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4955 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,214 psi | 80% | 3018 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 7828 SSC | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,763 psi | 75% | 3035 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 7977 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,025 psi | 78% | 2969 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8133 Enduron | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,257 psi | 50% | 2671 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,440 psi | 67% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| Norma 217 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 51% | 2700 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,506 psi | 83% | 3123 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Grand | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,981 psi | 76% | 3058 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot LRT | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,114 psi | 83% | 3159 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Magnum | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,035 psi | 69% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 44% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 76 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 66% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 80 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,277 psi | 60% | 2858 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil R 904 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,680 psi | 83% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 905 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,085 psi | 83% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 13 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,424 psi | 65% | 2867 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 8000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,737 psi | 82% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,419 psi | 83% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N165 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,805 psi | 73% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N170 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,020 psi | 67% | 2871 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,259 psi | 83% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N560 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,752 psi | 82% | 3127 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N565 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,006 psi | 69% | 2940 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N568 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,104 psi | 62% | 2871 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N570 | 88.8 gr | 82% | 42,221 psi | 63% | 2930 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,256 psi | 77% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Winchester Supreme 780 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,532 psi | 77% | 2979 fps | 100% |
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 56 powders for 7.21 Firebird loaded with the .284 | 154gr | Norma Soft Point. ADI AR 2218 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,314 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,037 fps to 3,314 fps. Accurate 8700 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 56 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (460 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 154.0 gr projectile in 0.284" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 8700, 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. ADI AR 2218, Vihtavuori N570, Alliant Reloder-33 rank at the top here: for 7.21 Firebird with the .284 | 154gr | Norma Soft Point they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Hodgdon 50BMG 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.