Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 R with .338 | 230gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid 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% | 49,153 psi | 89% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,195 psi | 86% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 2388 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,225 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,437 psi | 73% | 2362 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,037 psi | 87% | 2408 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 2405 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,443 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2375 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 2461 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 2493 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 2425 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 2438 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,829 psi | 76% | 2375 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 2513 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 2297 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,311 psi | 86% | 2415 fps | 97.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 2434 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 2441 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 2470 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 2441 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 2418 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,058 psi | 69% | 2277 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 2444 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,243 psi | 62% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 2382 fps | 99% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,239 psi | 86% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 2392 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,363 psi | 71% | 2323 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 2467 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2375 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 2362 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 96% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 2408 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,718 psi | 87% | 2428 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,379 psi | 75% | 2362 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2451 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 2382 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 2402 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,979 psi | 89% | 2375 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,316 psi | 62% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 2362 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 2490 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,355 psi | 86% | 2365 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 2418 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 2372 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,166 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2477 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 2431 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,414 psi | 88% | 2405 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,298 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,225 psi | 88% | 2421 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,724 psi | 67% | 2316 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,269 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,732 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,617 psi | 90% | 2408 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,845 psi | 80% | 2369 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 2375 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,786 psi | 78% | 2372 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,281 psi | 82% | 2362 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 2415 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,921 psi | 89% | 2434 fps | 99.3% |
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% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,249 psi | 75% | 2264 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,211 psi | 55% | 2093 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 66% | 2221 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,660 psi | 52% | 2073 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,826 psi | 69% | 2316 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 64% | 2178 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,085 psi | 65% | 2185 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,122 psi | 84% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 67% | 2198 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,549 psi | 65% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,728 psi | 78% | 2362 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 48.3 gr | 86% | 38,580 psi | 70% | 2329 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,429 psi | 55% | 2106 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,584 psi | 79% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,404 psi | 64% | 2208 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,436 psi | 72% | 2326 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,563 psi | 63% | 2257 fps | 95.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,701 psi | 83% | 2257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,696 psi | 70% | 2267 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,515 psi | 54% | 2100 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 71% | 2195 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,635 psi | 63% | 2201 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,421 psi | 70% | 2313 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,235 psi | 77% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,931 psi | 78% | 2313 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,509 psi | 74% | 2297 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,302 psi | 64% | 2192 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,663 psi | 61% | 2188 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,256 psi | 57% | 2149 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,222 psi | 46% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,026 psi | 62% | 2149 fps | 96% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,765 psi | 61% | 2195 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,563 psi | 65% | 2169 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 81% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,753 psi | 67% | 2274 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,823 psi | 61% | 2185 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 67% | 2198 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,843 psi | 74% | 2264 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,953 psi | 60% | 2162 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,100 psi | 66% | 2136 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 56% | 2080 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,859 psi | 80% | 2326 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 62% | 2142 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,287 psi | 62% | 2159 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,460 psi | 59% | 2149 fps | 95% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,972 psi | 71% | 2320 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,418 psi | 62% | 2208 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,032 psi | 76% | 2283 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,897 psi | 65% | 2208 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,205 psi | 73% | 2234 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,396 psi | 46% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,698 psi | 76% | 2274 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 45.7 gr | 84% | 36,463 psi | 66% | 2287 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 45.3 gr | 82% | 28,297 psi | 51% | 2110 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,782 psi | 69% | 2192 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,561 psi | 59% | 2100 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,575 psi | 57% | 2142 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,859 psi | 80% | 2326 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,953 psi | 60% | 2162 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 56% | 2080 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 80% | 2287 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,460 psi | 61% | 2192 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 81% | 2283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,740 psi | 72% | 2254 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,547 psi | 61% | 2149 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,216 psi | 66% | 2123 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 53% | 2005 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 72% | 2264 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 65% | 2126 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,418 psi | 62% | 2162 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,938 psi | 60% | 2152 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,429 psi | 55% | 2175 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,249 psi | 75% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 66% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,299 psi | 57% | 2100 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,300 psi | 59% | 2103 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,601 psi | 50% | 2018 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,551 psi | 70% | 2274 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,767 psi | 67% | 2188 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,980 psi | 56% | 2090 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,045 psi | 73% | 2326 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,809 psi | 63% | 2175 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,447 psi | 64% | 2221 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 59% | 2152 fps | 95.7% |
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 85 powders for 8.5 x 63 R loaded with the .338 | 230gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,523 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,453 fps to 2,523 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 230.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:11.5 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 | 230gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid 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.