Load data for 8.5 mm Messner Mag. + .338 | 172gr | Sax KDG-S

8.5 mm Messner Mag. cartridge drawing
Sax logo

Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Sax
Bullet Weight:172 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.338"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):2.508"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:106 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle Magnum (LRM)
Barrel Length:25.6"
Max. allowed Pressure:63,817 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:14.5

Load data in caliber 8.5 mm Messner Mag. with .338 | 172gr | Sax KDG-S bullet and 94 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-17 and ReloadSwiss RS 60.

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.

A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.

You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?

Max Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 2015<<locked>>84%57,740 psi90%3091 fps100%
Accurate 2495<<locked>>88%57,145 psi90%3120 fps100%
Accurate 2520<<locked>>84%56,956 psi89%3173 fps100%
Accurate 2700<<locked>>92%57,130 psi90%3123 fps97.4%
Accurate 3100ᴾ<<locked>>100%48,080 psi75%2999 fps96.8%
Accurate 4064<<locked>>88%56,971 psi89%3153 fps100%
Accurate 4350<<locked>>96%56,666 psi89%3241 fps99.7%
ADI AR 2206H<<locked>>84%55,651 psi87%3127 fps99.9%
ADI AR 2208<<locked>>90%56,666 psi89%3126 fps99.7%
ADI Benchmark 8208<<locked>>82%54,491 psi85%3117 fps100%
Alliant AR-Comp<<locked>>82%55,695 psi87%3052 fps100%
Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR<<locked>>86%55,376 psi87%3251 fps99.7%
Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5<<locked>>90%57,159 psi90%3154 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-15<<locked>>88%57,551 psi90%3175 fps99.8%
Alliant Reloder-16<<locked>>98%57,029 psi89%3245 fps99.8%
Alliant Reloder-17<<locked>>92%54,549 psi85%3225 fps100%
Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ<<locked>>100%45,165 psi71%3025 fps99.3%
Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ<<locked>>100%50,241 psi79%3206 fps98.8%
Baschieri & Pellagri 107<<locked>>84%55,376 psi87%3135 fps99.5%
Bofors RP3<<locked>>88%54,766 psi86%3120 fps100%
Bofors RP7<<locked>>92%54,404 psi85%3081 fps96.7%
Hodgdon Benchmark<<locked>>82%55,898 psi88%3055 fps100%
Hodgdon BL-C2<<locked>>84%55,463 psi87%3179 fps100%
Hodgdon CFE223<<locked>>82%57,725 psi90%3294 fps100%
Hodgdon H380<<locked>>88%55,230 psi87%3126 fps99.1%
Hodgdon H414<<locked>>92%56,550 psi89%3204 fps97.8%
Hodgdon H4350<<locked>>96%54,694 psi86%3182 fps96.6%
Hodgdon H4895<<locked>>84%56,246 psi88%3137 fps100%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V<<locked>>98%53,476 psi84%3113 fps99.9%
Hodgdon LEVERevolution<<locked>>90%57,566 psi90%3251 fps100%
Hodgdon Superformance<<locked>>94%55,477 psi87%3212 fps97.2%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%37,043 psi58%1957 fps100%
Hodgdon VARGET<<locked>>90%57,624 psi90%3199 fps100%
IMR 3031<<locked>>86%55,187 psi86%3105 fps100%
IMR 4064<<locked>>90%55,434 psi87%3143 fps99.9%
IMR 4166 Enduron<<locked>>90%54,563 psi86%3061 fps97.3%
IMR 4350<<locked>>96%54,650 psi86%3153 fps97.3%
IMR 4451 Enduron<<locked>>94%57,276 psi90%3189 fps98.1%
IMR 4831ᴾ<<locked>>100%54,868 psi86%3132 fps99.4%
IMR 4895<<locked>>86%55,622 psi87%3154 fps99.9%
IMR 8208 XBR<<locked>>82%54,491 psi85%3074 fps100%
Lovex D073.6<<locked>>84%56,159 psi88%3107 fps100%
Lovex S060<<locked>>84%54,766 psi86%3047 fps99.9%
Lovex S062<<locked>>88%56,391 psi88%3108 fps100%
Lovex S065<<locked>>94%55,840 psi88%3109 fps98.6%
Lovex S070<<locked>>96%56,869 psi89%3146 fps98%
Norma 201<<locked>>84%54,766 psi86%3073 fps100%
Norma 202<<locked>>84%55,071 psi86%3071 fps100%
Norma 203B<<locked>>88%56,840 psi89%3161 fps99.9%
Norma MRPᴾ<<locked>>100%49,603 psi78%3155 fps96.2%
Norma URP<<locked>>96%54,926 psi86%3170 fps99.4%
Ramshot Big Game<<locked>>88%57,522 psi90%3186 fps99.9%
Ramshot Hunter<<locked>>98%57,305 psi90%3222 fps98.6%
Ramshot TAC<<locked>>82%54,621 psi86%3086 fps98.6%
Ramshot Wild Boar<<locked>>82%54,476 psi85%3108 fps99.8%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%37,637 psi59%2001 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 50<<locked>>88%55,172 psi86%3101 fps98%
ReloadSwiss RS 52<<locked>>84%54,578 psi86%3188 fps99.7%
ReloadSwiss RS 60<<locked>>90%54,259 psi85%3226 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62<<locked>>96%56,014 psi88%3210 fps99.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 70<<locked>>96%54,795 psi86%3231 fps99.1%
Rottweil R 901<<locked>>82%56,028 psi88%3061 fps100%
Rottweil R 902<<locked>>86%55,463 psi87%3074 fps100%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>90%54,665 psi86%3111 fps100%
Rottweil R 907<<locked>>92%54,404 psi85%3081 fps96.7%
Shooters World Long Rifle<<locked>>94%55,840 psi88%3109 fps98.6%
Shooters World Match Rifle<<locked>>84%56,159 psi88%3107 fps100%
Shooters World Precision<<locked>>88%56,391 psi88%3108 fps100%
Shooters World SW4350<<locked>>96%54,433 psi85%3163 fps98%
SNPE Vectan SP 11<<locked>>90%55,941 psi88%3168 fps99.9%
SNPE Vectan SP 7<<locked>>84%57,188 psi90%3128 fps99.2%
SNPE Vectan SP 9<<locked>>86%57,508 psi90%3149 fps99.9%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000<<locked>>84%55,608 psi87%3006 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>90%56,086 psi88%3003 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000<<locked>>94%55,941 psi88%3055 fps97.5%
Somchem S335<<locked>>84%55,303 psi87%3004 fps100%
Somchem S341<<locked>>84%56,463 psi88%3113 fps99.9%
Somchem S355<<locked>>90%54,810 psi86%3108 fps100%
Somchem S365<<locked>>98%53,301 psi84%3176 fps100%
Somchem S385ᴾ<<locked>>100%53,983 psi85%3102 fps96.4%
Unknown powder<<locked>>94%55,796 psi87%3178 fps99.1%
Vihtavuori N130<<locked>>82%57,537 psi90%3001 fps100%
Vihtavuori N133<<locked>>86%55,405 psi87%2987 fps100%
Vihtavuori N135<<locked>>88%56,043 psi88%3104 fps100%
Vihtavuori N140<<locked>>86%54,766 psi86%3040 fps100%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>96%56,043 psi88%3086 fps100%
Vihtavuori N160<<locked>>94%56,420 psi88%3148 fps99.4%
Vihtavuori N530<<locked>>82%57,682 psi90%3135 fps100%
Vihtavuori N540<<locked>>86%54,607 psi86%3067 fps100%
Vihtavuori N550<<locked>>94%56,898 psi89%3200 fps99.5%
Vihtavuori N555ᴾ<<locked>>100%50,647 psi79%3108 fps99.2%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL<<locked>>96%57,493 psi90%3140 fps100%
Winchester 760<<locked>>92%56,550 psi89%3204 fps97.8%
Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ<<locked>>100%40,466 psi63%3042 fps99.4%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate 2015<<locked>>80%51,082 psi80%2992 fps100%
Accurate 2495<<locked>>80%43,888 psi69%2910 fps100%
Accurate 2520<<locked>>80%49,617 psi78%3058 fps100%
Accurate 2700<<locked>>86%46,905 psi74%2943 fps95.2%
Accurate 3100<<locked>>96%41,466 psi65%2882 fps95.2%
Accurate 4064<<locked>>80%44,643 psi70%2946 fps100%
Accurate 4350<<locked>>82%35,607 psi56%2822 fps95.8%
ADI AR 2206H<<locked>>80%49,269 psi77%3012 fps99.4%
ADI AR 2208<<locked>>80%42,003 psi66%2849 fps97.7%
ADI Benchmark 8208<<locked>>80%51,184 psi80%3061 fps100%
Alliant AR-Comp<<locked>>80%52,257 psi82%3003 fps100%
Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR<<locked>>80%45,237 psi71%3053 fps98.4%
Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5<<locked>>80%42,206 psi66%2879 fps99%
Alliant Reloder-15<<locked>>80%44,976 psi70%2946 fps98.5%
Alliant Reloder-16<<locked>>84%37,072 psi58%2829 fps95.8%
Alliant Reloder-1773.6 gr80%36,608 psi57%2844 fps97.5%
Alliant Reloder-23<<locked>>90%32,793 psi51%2733 fps95.8%
Alliant Reloder-26<<locked>>92%38,000 psi60%2930 fps95.3%
Baschieri & Pellagri 107<<locked>>80%48,704 psi76%3018 fps98.7%
Bofors RP3<<locked>>80%42,409 psi66%2890 fps99.1%
Bofors RP7<<locked>>88%48,153 psi75%2963 fps95.3%
Hodgdon Benchmark<<locked>>80%52,576 psi82%3000 fps100%
Hodgdon BL-C2<<locked>>80%48,486 psi76%3061 fps100%
Hodgdon CFE223<<locked>>80%53,621 psi84%3225 fps99.8%
Hodgdon H380<<locked>>80%42,772 psi67%2887 fps96.9%
Hodgdon H414<<locked>>86%46,238 psi72%3012 fps95.5%
Hodgdon H4350<<locked>>92%48,341 psi76%3064 fps95.1%
Hodgdon H4895<<locked>>80%49,763 psi78%3026 fps99.7%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V<<locked>>80%30,458 psi48%2608 fps95%
Hodgdon LEVERevolution<<locked>>80%41,176 psi65%2956 fps99.2%
Hodgdon Superformance<<locked>>90%48,211 psi76%3075 fps95.5%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%27,035 psi42%1752 fps100%
Hodgdon VARGET<<locked>>80%42,206 psi66%2920 fps99%
IMR 3031<<locked>>80%45,803 psi72%2950 fps100%
IMR 4064<<locked>>80%41,205 psi65%2871 fps98.2%
IMR 4166 Enduron<<locked>>84%45,905 psi72%2896 fps95.3%
IMR 4350<<locked>>90%45,556 psi71%2979 fps95.2%
IMR 4451 Enduron<<locked>>86%44,802 psi70%2956 fps95.4%
IMR 4831<<locked>>86%35,244 psi55%2744 fps95.1%
IMR 4895<<locked>>80%46,108 psi72%2980 fps99.1%
IMR 8208 XBR<<locked>>80%51,184 psi80%3018 fps100%
Lovex D073.6<<locked>>80%49,182 psi77%2993 fps100%
Lovex S060<<locked>>80%48,646 psi76%2939 fps99.4%
Lovex S062<<locked>>80%44,440 psi70%2895 fps99.5%
Lovex S065<<locked>>84%41,495 psi65%2832 fps95.6%
Lovex S070<<locked>>88%44,715 psi70%2919 fps95.3%
Norma 201<<locked>>80%48,631 psi76%2966 fps99.9%
Norma 202<<locked>>80%48,834 psi77%2970 fps100%
Norma 203B<<locked>>80%44,382 psi70%2933 fps98.8%
Norma MRP<<locked>>98%46,253 psi72%3087 fps95.2%
Norma URP<<locked>>84%37,637 psi59%2820 fps95.7%
Ramshot Big Game<<locked>>80%44,092 psi69%2946 fps98.6%
Ramshot Hunter<<locked>>88%41,669 psi65%2921 fps95.1%
Ramshot TAC<<locked>>80%51,198 psi80%3024 fps98.1%
Ramshot Wild Boar<<locked>>80%51,010 psi80%3048 fps99.6%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%27,412 psi43%1793 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 50<<locked>>80%42,859 psi67%2863 fps95.1%
ReloadSwiss RS 52<<locked>>80%47,732 psi75%3064 fps98.9%
ReloadSwiss RS 6073.6 gr80%38,798 psi61%2915 fps99.7%
ReloadSwiss RS 62<<locked>>84%37,333 psi59%2837 fps95.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 7080.4 gr86%39,421 psi62%2901 fps95.3%
Rottweil R 901<<locked>>80%52,852 psi83%3010 fps100%
Rottweil R 902<<locked>>80%46,369 psi73%2914 fps99.7%
Rottweil R 903<<locked>>80%39,900 psi63%2828 fps98.4%
Rottweil R 907<<locked>>88%48,153 psi75%2963 fps95.3%
Shooters World Long Rifle<<locked>>84%41,495 psi65%2832 fps95.6%
Shooters World Match Rifle<<locked>>80%49,182 psi77%2993 fps100%
Shooters World Precision<<locked>>80%44,440 psi70%2895 fps99.5%
Shooters World SW4350<<locked>>88%42,366 psi66%2930 fps95.2%
SNPE Vectan SP 11<<locked>>80%40,480 psi63%2873 fps97.9%
SNPE Vectan SP 7<<locked>>80%50,009 psi78%3004 fps98.3%
SNPE Vectan SP 9<<locked>>80%47,718 psi75%2977 fps99.2%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000<<locked>>80%49,356 psi77%2906 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000<<locked>>80%41,510 psi65%2761 fps100%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000<<locked>>88%46,354 psi73%2883 fps95.5%
Somchem S335<<locked>>80%49,211 psi77%2907 fps100%
Somchem S341<<locked>>80%49,603 psi78%2998 fps99.4%
Somchem S355<<locked>>80%40,422 psi63%2831 fps98.4%
Somchem S365<<locked>>80%29,950 psi47%2654 fps96.4%
Somchem S385<<locked>>98%49,617 psi78%3042 fps95.7%
Unknown powder<<locked>>82%38,145 psi60%2823 fps95.1%
Vihtavuori N130<<locked>>80%54,157 psi85%2951 fps100%
Vihtavuori N133<<locked>>80%46,630 psi73%2848 fps100%
Vihtavuori N135<<locked>>80%43,555 psi68%2904 fps100%
Vihtavuori N140<<locked>>80%45,542 psi71%2886 fps100%
Vihtavuori N150<<locked>>80%34,650 psi54%2670 fps98.1%
Vihtavuori N160<<locked>>80%35,853 psi56%2737 fps95%
Vihtavuori N530<<locked>>80%54,027 psi85%3077 fps100%
Vihtavuori N540<<locked>>80%45,440 psi71%2909 fps100%
Vihtavuori N550<<locked>>80%36,376 psi57%2782 fps95%
Vihtavuori N555<<locked>>88%33,591 psi53%2762 fps95.1%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL<<locked>>80%34,098 psi53%2675 fps96.8%
Winchester 760<<locked>>86%46,238 psi72%3012 fps95.5%
Winchester StaBALL HD<<locked>>92%31,256 psi49%2763 fps95.6%

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.

<<locked>> you need an access license to unlock this data.

This overview compares 94 powders for 8.5 mm Messner Mag. loaded with the .338 | 172gr | Sax KDG-S. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,294 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,957 fps to 3,294 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 94 of the 94 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.

Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 172.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:14.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-26 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. ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-17, ReloadSwiss RS 60 rank at the top here: for 8.5 mm Messner Mag. with the .338 | 172gr | Sax KDG-S 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.

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