Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 R with .338 | 225gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT bullet and 85 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 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.
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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>> | 88% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,949 psi | 85% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,205 psi | 73% | 2388 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2441 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 2438 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 2405 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 2490 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,137 psi | 86% | 2523 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 2454 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 2467 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,930 psi | 76% | 2405 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 2543 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,427 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 97.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,456 psi | 86% | 2464 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,137 psi | 86% | 2500 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 2434 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 2467 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 2451 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,913 psi | 69% | 2303 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,806 psi | 90% | 2520 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,011 psi | 62% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 2408 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 2421 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,413 psi | 86% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 2497 fps | 99% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,587 psi | 86% | 2405 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,703 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,615 psi | 85% | 2402 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 2457 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,437 psi | 75% | 2395 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 2411 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 2431 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,316 psi | 62% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 2398 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2523 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 2451 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,615 psi | 85% | 2402 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,703 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 2510 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,776 psi | 89% | 2431 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 2461 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,371 psi | 90% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,370 psi | 88% | 2438 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 2434 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2451 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,753 psi | 67% | 2346 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,327 psi | 90% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,384 psi | 86% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 2444 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,642 psi | 79% | 2395 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 2405 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,511 psi | 77% | 2398 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,165 psi | 82% | 2392 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 2464 fps | 99.2% |
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% | 38,058 psi | 69% | 2211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,104 psi | 75% | 2293 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 54% | 2116 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,448 psi | 66% | 2247 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 52% | 2096 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,594 psi | 68% | 2339 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,809 psi | 63% | 2205 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,984 psi | 65% | 2211 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,006 psi | 83% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 67% | 2221 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,317 psi | 64% | 2228 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,395 psi | 77% | 2388 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 49.1 gr | 86% | 38,522 psi | 70% | 2359 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,342 psi | 55% | 2133 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,381 psi | 79% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,273 psi | 64% | 2234 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,320 psi | 71% | 2356 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,490 psi | 63% | 2283 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,498 psi | 83% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,696 psi | 70% | 2300 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,531 psi | 57% | 2175 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 71% | 2224 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,519 psi | 63% | 2228 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,218 psi | 69% | 2339 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,163 psi | 77% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,728 psi | 78% | 2343 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,205 psi | 73% | 2323 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,027 psi | 64% | 2215 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,402 psi | 61% | 2208 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 57% | 2175 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,150 psi | 46% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,968 psi | 62% | 2178 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,794 psi | 61% | 2224 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,505 psi | 64% | 2195 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,541 psi | 81% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,721 psi | 61% | 2215 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 67% | 2221 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,915 psi | 74% | 2297 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,619 psi | 59% | 2182 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,129 psi | 66% | 2165 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,661 psi | 56% | 2106 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,729 psi | 79% | 2356 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,040 psi | 62% | 2169 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,040 psi | 62% | 2185 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,592 psi | 63% | 2224 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,812 psi | 70% | 2346 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,695 psi | 67% | 2283 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,020 psi | 82% | 2362 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,723 psi | 65% | 2234 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,045 psi | 73% | 2264 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,309 psi | 46% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,611 psi | 76% | 2303 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 46.4 gr | 84% | 36,274 psi | 66% | 2313 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 46.1 gr | 82% | 28,340 psi | 51% | 2139 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,550 psi | 68% | 2218 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,372 psi | 59% | 2126 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,647 psi | 57% | 2169 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,729 psi | 79% | 2356 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,619 psi | 59% | 2182 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,661 psi | 56% | 2106 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,888 psi | 80% | 2313 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,543 psi | 84% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,708 psi | 65% | 2270 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,208 psi | 80% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,424 psi | 77% | 2329 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,431 psi | 61% | 2175 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,013 psi | 65% | 2149 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 53% | 2028 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,291 psi | 71% | 2290 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 64% | 2152 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 62% | 2188 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,011 psi | 60% | 2182 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,342 psi | 55% | 2198 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 75% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,100 psi | 66% | 2152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,082 psi | 56% | 2126 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,256 psi | 59% | 2129 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,298 psi | 53% | 2083 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,075 psi | 75% | 2352 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,695 psi | 67% | 2218 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,922 psi | 56% | 2116 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,827 psi | 72% | 2349 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,664 psi | 63% | 2198 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 64% | 2247 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 59% | 2175 fps | 95.5% |
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 85 powders for 8.5 x 63 R loaded with the .338 | 225gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,552 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,473 fps to 2,552 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 85 of the 85 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 225.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Alliant Reloder-17 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, ReloadSwiss RS 60 rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 63 R with the .338 | 225gr | Barnes TAC-TX BT 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.