Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8 x 57 IR with .318 | 150gr | Impala LWHV LS bullet and 31 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Accurate 4064 and Lovex D073.6.
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: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,481 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,930 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,654 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,654 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,712 psi | 88% | 2677 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,306 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,958 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,030 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,785 psi | 90% | 2664 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,185 psi | 74% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,885 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,785 psi | 90% | 2638 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,654 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,568 psi | 90% | 2661 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,330 psi | 74% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,916 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,537 psi | 85% | 2707 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,756 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,654 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,713 psi | 90% | 2575 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,263 psi | 87% | 2566 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,030 psi | 86% | 2628 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,002 psi | 88% | 2579 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,031 psi | 88% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,799 psi | 88% | 2575 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,466 psi | 87% | 2644 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,234 psi | 89% | 2635 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,567 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,582 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,046 psi | 88% | 2654 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,162 psi | 89% | 2690 fps | 96.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,796 psi | 79% | 2510 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 65% | 2418 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 72% | 2510 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 72% | 2510 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | 40.7 gr | 82% | 30,385 psi | 65% | 2434 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,707 psi | 73% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 81% | 2510 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,521 psi | 81% | 2608 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,956 psi | 80% | 2562 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,556 psi | 55% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 37.9 gr | 80% | 29,820 psi | 64% | 2438 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,233 psi | 85% | 2585 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 42.9 gr | 82% | 33,765 psi | 73% | 2513 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,837 psi | 71% | 2464 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,570 psi | 55% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 85% | 2595 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,420 psi | 81% | 2654 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,449 psi | 81% | 2526 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,765 psi | 73% | 2513 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 75% | 2431 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,645 psi | 62% | 2293 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,536 psi | 81% | 2572 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,534 psi | 74% | 2438 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,609 psi | 83% | 2513 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,445 psi | 70% | 2392 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 65% | 2408 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,734 psi | 66% | 2395 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,203 psi | 82% | 2585 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,131 psi | 84% | 2598 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,358 psi | 70% | 2457 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,216 psi | 78% | 2579 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 31 powders for 8 x 57 IR loaded with the .318 | 150gr | Impala LWHV LS. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,707 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,722 fps to 2,707 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 31 of the 31 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 74–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 150.0 gr projectile in 0.318" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N150 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. IMR 3031, Accurate 4064, Lovex D073.6 rank at the top here: for 8 x 57 IR with the .318 | 150gr | Impala LWHV LS 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.