Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (M43) Russian with .311 | 104gr | CutEdge ESP Raptor bullet and 9 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S040 and ADI AR 2205.
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: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,411 psi | 86% | 2418 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,788 psi | 87% | 2352 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,151 psi | 90% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,975 psi | 47% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,253 psi | 90% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,491 psi | 69% | 2300 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,206 psi | 45% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,170 psi | 64% | 2195 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,525 psi | 83% | 2402 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,263 psi | 80% | 2372 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2205 | 19 gr | 88% | 35,186 psi | 68% | 2195 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | 18.8 gr | 80% | 29,559 psi | 57% | 2267 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,274 psi | 34% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | 16.2 gr | 80% | 34,301 psi | 67% | 2208 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,562 psi | 65% | 2260 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,491 psi | 32% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,348 psi | 38% | 1857 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,177 psi | 45% | 2018 fps | 96.4% |
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 9 powders for 7.62 x 39 (M43) Russian loaded with the .311 | 104gr | CutEdge ESP Raptor. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,543 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,473 fps to 2,543 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 9 of the 9 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (355 MPa), the top charges use 45–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 104.0 gr projectile in 0.311" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, Lovex S053, 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. Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S040, ADI AR 2205 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (M43) Russian with the .311 | 104gr | CutEdge ESP Raptor 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.