Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 55 Blaser with .338 | 180gr | CutEdge ESP Raptor bullet and 84 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon CFE223, Alliant Power Pro 1200-R and Winchester StaBALL Match.
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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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,085 psi | 88% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2828 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 2838 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,196 psi | 77% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 2838 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 2838 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,701 psi | 72% | 2707 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,985 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 2677 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 2854 fps | 98% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,056 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,869 psi | 90% | 2822 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,171 psi | 85% | 2871 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,591 psi | 84% | 2887 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,107 psi | 72% | 2703 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,545 psi | 79% | 2776 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,505 psi | 87% | 2700 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,869 psi | 90% | 2861 fps | 96.9% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,614 psi | 72% | 2707 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,390 psi | 89% | 2769 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,766 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,491 psi | 87% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 2815 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,500 psi | 76% | 2776 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,054 psi | 53% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,995 psi | 80% | 2746 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,646 psi | 78% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,720 psi | 81% | 2808 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,869 psi | 90% | 2822 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2792 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 86% | 2831 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2743 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,414 psi | 78% | 2723 fps | 98% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 2802 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,544 psi | 78% | 2762 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,385 psi | 79% | 2782 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,492 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,679 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,895 psi | 53% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 2822 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 2887 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,366 psi | 70% | 2740 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,158 psi | 88% | 2795 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,140 psi | 82% | 2743 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,634 psi | 84% | 2772 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,737 psi | 86% | 2831 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,414 psi | 78% | 2723 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,127 psi | 85% | 2736 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 2825 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,955 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 2825 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2723 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 75% | 2621 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2808 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,737 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,844 psi | 69% | 2648 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,269 psi | 79% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,822 psi | 83% | 2749 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,307 psi | 66% | 2592 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,200 psi | 85% | 2772 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,024 psi | 80% | 2743 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 2884 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,953 psi | 85% | 2818 fps | 98.1% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,167 psi | 77% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 51% | 2369 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,457 psi | 78% | 2717 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,875 psi | 72% | 2661 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,330 psi | 55% | 2441 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,062 psi | 39% | 2228 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,953 psi | 53% | 2457 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,953 psi | 53% | 2457 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,137 psi | 45% | 2352 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,147 psi | 66% | 2477 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,524 psi | 67% | 2487 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,439 psi | 70% | 2644 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,787 psi | 70% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,914 psi | 62% | 2556 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,145 psi | 61% | 2516 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 47% | 2388 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 46.1 gr | 84% | 40,669 psi | 65% | 2648 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,052 psi | 79% | 2825 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,537 psi | 63% | 2598 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 59% | 2480 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,427 psi | 74% | 2720 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,107 psi | 72% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 63% | 2464 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,965 psi | 79% | 2753 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,885 psi | 62% | 2602 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,013 psi | 58% | 2425 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,375 psi | 57% | 2516 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 53.8 gr | 90% | 45,382 psi | 73% | 2753 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,953 psi | 53% | 2425 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 61% | 2543 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 68% | 2516 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,930 psi | 66% | 2608 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,059 psi | 63% | 2612 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,323 psi | 39% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,481 psi | 67% | 2595 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,686 psi | 41% | 2283 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,609 psi | 62% | 2474 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,329 psi | 82% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,698 psi | 67% | 2651 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,145 psi | 61% | 2516 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 58% | 2461 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,084 psi | 55% | 2434 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,953 psi | 53% | 2457 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,212 psi | 81% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,279 psi | 68% | 2546 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,536 psi | 60% | 2523 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,495 psi | 67% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,043 psi | 59% | 2497 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,574 psi | 49% | 2372 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,656 psi | 68% | 2657 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,050 psi | 74% | 2726 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,206 psi | 68% | 2628 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,672 psi | 72% | 2615 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,308 psi | 39% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,314 psi | 82% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,476 psi | 57% | 2461 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,527 psi | 73% | 2769 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,491 psi | 57% | 2559 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 51% | 2365 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,391 psi | 60% | 2497 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,177 psi | 68% | 2602 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,953 psi | 53% | 2457 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,536 psi | 60% | 2523 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,176 psi | 64% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,774 psi | 73% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 63% | 2559 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 60% | 2490 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,846 psi | 72% | 2667 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 49% | 2293 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,585 psi | 43% | 2205 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,985 psi | 61% | 2536 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 48% | 2297 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,511 psi | 70% | 2628 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,103 psi | 64% | 2595 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,932 psi | 70% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,244 psi | 57% | 2398 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 49% | 2310 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,585 psi | 41% | 2254 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,834 psi | 46% | 2306 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,114 psi | 58% | 2490 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,942 psi | 61% | 2510 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,488 psi | 50% | 2388 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,360 psi | 55% | 2490 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | 52.6 gr | 84% | 39,465 psi | 63% | 2585 fps | 95% |
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 95 powders for 8.5 x 55 Blaser loaded with the .338 | 180gr | CutEdge ESP Raptor. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,933 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,654 fps to 2,933 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 95 of the 95 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 180.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2206H 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 CFE223, Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester StaBALL Match rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 55 Blaser with the .338 | 180gr | CutEdge ESP Raptor they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon H380, Ramshot TAC 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.