Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 55 Blaser with .338 | 185gr | Hornady ECX bullet and 88 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 52 and Hodgdon CFE223.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,779 psi | 85% | 2805 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,955 psi | 88% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 2818 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,085 psi | 87% | 2838 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2828 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,840 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2799 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,912 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,403 psi | 86% | 2930 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,766 psi | 86% | 2848 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2864 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,601 psi | 76% | 2831 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 2848 fps | 97.7% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 2858 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2789 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 2877 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2910 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,187 psi | 88% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 2871 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,331 psi | 87% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 2920 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,040 psi | 55% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 2831 fps | 99% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,738 psi | 89% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 2900 fps | 99% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2799 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,505 psi | 86% | 2789 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2769 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2808 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,098 psi | 85% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,215 psi | 87% | 2877 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,433 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 96.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,011 psi | 85% | 2825 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2802 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,243 psi | 55% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,201 psi | 87% | 2930 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,865 psi | 82% | 2904 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,420 psi | 90% | 2828 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,038 psi | 80% | 2792 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2808 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,098 psi | 84% | 2851 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2831 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2854 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,447 psi | 87% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 2835 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,143 psi | 88% | 2831 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,937 psi | 82% | 2795 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,579 psi | 59% | 2608 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,084 psi | 85% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,086 psi | 90% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,062 psi | 69% | 2635 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2808 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,121 psi | 72% | 2667 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 99.1% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,869 psi | 61% | 2487 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,834 psi | 78% | 2736 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,240 psi | 79% | 2746 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 66% | 2575 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,400 psi | 49% | 2382 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,853 psi | 56% | 2497 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 46% | 2356 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,601 psi | 75% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,934 psi | 75% | 2595 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,523 psi | 63% | 2575 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,604 psi | 81% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,989 psi | 69% | 2625 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 73% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 59% | 2493 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 56% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 58.4 gr | 90% | 43,627 psi | 70% | 2746 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,505 psi | 55% | 2490 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,178 psi | 69% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,871 psi | 64% | 2602 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,117 psi | 63% | 2657 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,590 psi | 83% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,252 psi | 73% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,888 psi | 70% | 2677 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,998 psi | 58% | 2539 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 62% | 2497 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,418 psi | 55% | 2493 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 54.5 gr | 82% | 40,741 psi | 65% | 2674 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,682 psi | 62% | 2549 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,875 psi | 72% | 2671 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,803 psi | 73% | 2703 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,124 psi | 77% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,376 psi | 60% | 2536 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,766 psi | 57% | 2546 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,222 psi | 40% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,782 psi | 61% | 2526 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 49% | 2428 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,392 psi | 63% | 2546 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 71% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,247 psi | 61% | 2582 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 59% | 2493 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,053 psi | 80% | 2740 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,770 psi | 65% | 2575 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,648 psi | 52% | 2444 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,174 psi | 61% | 2474 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,751 psi | 56% | 2461 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,762 psi | 78% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,156 psi | 55% | 2431 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 55% | 2451 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,117 psi | 63% | 2592 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,870 psi | 62% | 2598 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,792 psi | 81% | 2746 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,000 psi | 61% | 2549 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,885 psi | 64% | 2533 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,324 psi | 41% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,307 psi | 66% | 2585 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 55.4 gr | 88% | 41,423 psi | 66% | 2700 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,256 psi | 52% | 2497 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 60% | 2493 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,606 psi | 55% | 2434 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,114 psi | 58% | 2533 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,053 psi | 80% | 2740 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,648 psi | 52% | 2444 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,751 psi | 56% | 2461 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,613 psi | 70% | 2595 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,778 psi | 81% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,093 psi | 74% | 2684 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,321 psi | 65% | 2638 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 70% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,399 psi | 78% | 2717 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,116 psi | 61% | 2543 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,940 psi | 58% | 2415 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 47% | 2277 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,218 psi | 63% | 2566 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 57% | 2418 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,175 psi | 63% | 2556 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,391 psi | 60% | 2543 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,345 psi | 55% | 2556 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,224 psi | 76% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,103 psi | 64% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 54% | 2375 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,024 psi | 50% | 2388 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,705 psi | 51% | 2379 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,662 psi | 51% | 2395 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,450 psi | 62% | 2539 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,415 psi | 50% | 2392 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,581 psi | 63% | 2559 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 61% | 2579 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 65% | 2612 fps | 96.5% |
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 88 powders for 8.5 x 55 Blaser loaded with the .338 | 185gr | Hornady ECX. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,930 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,686 fps to 2,930 fps. Accurate 4064 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 88 of the 88 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 185.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:14.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 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 Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 52, Hodgdon CFE223 rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 55 Blaser with the .338 | 185gr | Hornady ECX 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.