Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 R with .338 | 225gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter bullet and 79 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 and Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR.
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>> | 84% | 48,805 psi | 89% | 2398 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 2457 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,225 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,993 psi | 87% | 2546 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 2474 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 2425 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 2612 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,950 psi | 87% | 2490 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,907 psi | 89% | 2510 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,355 psi | 86% | 2549 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 2589 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,562 psi | 61% | 2303 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,152 psi | 86% | 2484 fps | 98.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 2503 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 2425 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,920 psi | 85% | 2533 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,371 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,298 psi | 88% | 2484 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,468 psi | 79% | 2441 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 2556 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,824 psi | 63% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 2487 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,298 psi | 88% | 2457 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,730 psi | 83% | 2493 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 2490 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,557 psi | 84% | 2454 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 2415 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 2457 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 97.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 2474 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,181 psi | 86% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2500 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 2539 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 2516 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot Hunterᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,963 psi | 85% | 2530 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 2441 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 2510 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2434 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,215 psi | 64% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 2444 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,298 psi | 88% | 2562 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,819 psi | 87% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,443 psi | 88% | 2582 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 2428 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 2493 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,557 psi | 84% | 2454 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 2457 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,443 psi | 88% | 2467 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2497 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 2464 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 2464 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 2493 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,395 psi | 77% | 2490 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,791 psi | 89% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,776 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,427 psi | 86% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,702 psi | 85% | 2434 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,137 psi | 86% | 2490 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 2431 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,704 psi | 88% | 2457 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2543 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,505 psi | 64% | 2369 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 2480 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 2500 fps | 99.6% |
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% | 43,265 psi | 79% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,061 psi | 76% | 2372 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,779 psi | 61% | 2231 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,245 psi | 66% | 2339 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,581 psi | 72% | 2329 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,707 psi | 61% | 2195 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 75% | 2343 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,017 psi | 74% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 50.4 gr | 80% | 35,636 psi | 65% | 2336 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,025 psi | 60% | 2215 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 64% | 2267 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,246 psi | 68% | 2352 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 52.1 gr | 84% | 32,329 psi | 59% | 2270 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,575 psi | 57% | 2254 fps | 95% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,421 psi | 70% | 2326 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,343 psi | 59% | 2215 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,642 psi | 79% | 2336 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,827 psi | 72% | 2359 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,685 psi | 79% | 2477 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,072 psi | 69% | 2313 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,885 psi | 72% | 2339 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,952 psi | 58% | 2211 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,708 psi | 65% | 2306 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,049 psi | 47% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,479 psi | 70% | 2300 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,986 psi | 71% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 64% | 2224 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,346 psi | 64% | 2303 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,289 psi | 66% | 2297 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 75% | 2343 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 69% | 2316 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,176 psi | 73% | 2277 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 64% | 2231 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,698 psi | 76% | 2356 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,870 psi | 71% | 2293 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,059 psi | 71% | 2306 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,853 psi | 63% | 2257 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,912 psi | 67% | 2343 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,243 psi | 62% | 2264 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,135 psi | 80% | 2480 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,423 psi | 75% | 2339 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,727 psi | 74% | 2362 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,005 psi | 82% | 2385 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,295 psi | 48% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,034 psi | 80% | 2395 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,724 psi | 67% | 2352 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 49.7 gr | 80% | 30,429 psi | 55% | 2231 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,885 psi | 71% | 2411 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,424 psi | 77% | 2474 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,815 psi | 78% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 67% | 2247 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,371 psi | 55% | 2162 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,698 psi | 76% | 2356 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 69% | 2316 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 64% | 2231 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,605 psi | 61% | 2254 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 72% | 2313 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 69% | 2303 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,596 psi | 74% | 2260 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,431 psi | 61% | 2142 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 81% | 2411 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,016 psi | 73% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 71% | 2313 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,444 psi | 57% | 2172 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 86% | 27,398 psi | 50% | 2149 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,977 psi | 83% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,770 psi | 74% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,114 psi | 66% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 67% | 2247 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 54% | 2116 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,593 psi | 66% | 2303 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,698 psi | 76% | 2339 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,476 psi | 64% | 2238 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,000 psi | 69% | 2349 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,446 psi | 61% | 2323 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,547 psi | 59% | 2188 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,582 psi | 74% | 2375 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 68% | 2303 fps | 97.7% |
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 79 powders for 8.5 x 63 R loaded with the .338 | 225gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,612 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,522 fps to 2,612 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 79 of the 79 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 61–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 225.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:15.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Alliant Reloder-23 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 60, Alliant Reloder-17, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 63 R with the .338 | 225gr | Sierra Pro-Hunter 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.