Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 7.62 x 39 (M43) Russian with .312 | 168gr | Peregrine Bushmaster (VRG-3) bullet and 20 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-7, ReloadSwiss RS 36 and ADI AR 2207.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,947 psi | 85% | 1969 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,049 psi | 87% | 1903 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,685 psi | 85% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,058 psi | 74% | 1982 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,671 psi | 85% | 2005 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,875 psi | 87% | 1985 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,080 psi | 56% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,351 psi | 82% | 1988 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,048 psi | 86% | 1962 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,498 psi | 88% | 1995 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,121 psi | 88% | 1972 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,917 psi | 83% | 2041 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,166 psi | 55% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,252 psi | 88% | 2014 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,498 psi | 88% | 1995 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,455 psi | 88% | 1975 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,340 psi | 90% | 1877 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,396 psi | 86% | 1906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,961 psi | 85% | 2008 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,188 psi | 72% | 1913 fps | 96.5% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,721 psi | 65% | 1818 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,943 psi | 78% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17.9 gr | 80% | 24,990 psi | 49% | 1726 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,386 psi | 61% | 1870 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 19.5 gr | 84% | 30,371 psi | 59% | 1795 fps | 95.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,221 psi | 82% | 1949 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,190 psi | 41% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,095 psi | 58% | 1781 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,401 psi | 63% | 1791 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 78% | 1923 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,633 psi | 61% | 1781 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,211 psi | 57% | 1824 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,610 psi | 40% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 18.6 gr | 80% | 31,024 psi | 60% | 1801 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 78% | 1923 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 77% | 1900 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,863 psi | 58% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,318 psi | 72% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,396 psi | 49% | 1713 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,953 psi | 64% | 1844 fps | 95.1% |
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 20 powders for 7.62 x 39 (M43) Russian loaded with the .312 | 168gr | Peregrine Bushmaster (VRG-3). ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,041 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,214 fps to 2,041 fps. Alliant Reloder-10x gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 20 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (355 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 168.0 gr projectile in 0.312" calls for a 1:14.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-10x, Baschieri & Pellagri 106, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Alliant Reloder-7, ReloadSwiss RS 36, ADI AR 2207 rank at the top here: for 7.62 x 39 (M43) Russian with the .312 | 168gr | Peregrine Bushmaster (VRG-3) they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.