Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 R with .338 | 250gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid bullet and 87 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 Power Pro 2000-MR and ReloadSwiss RS 52.
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>> | 86% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2208 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,123 psi | 86% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 2290 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,554 psi | 77% | 2287 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 2320 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,688 psi | 87% | 2274 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 2287 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2320 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 2402 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 2333 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2215 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 2306 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,250 psi | 78% | 2293 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 2425 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 2333 fps | 98.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,530 psi | 90% | 2343 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 2234 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 2306 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 2382 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,747 psi | 87% | 2303 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 2287 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,436 psi | 72% | 2198 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 2349 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,360 psi | 62% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,572 psi | 86% | 2277 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 2297 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,269 psi | 89% | 2287 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 2264 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,805 psi | 89% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,361 psi | 66% | 2165 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 2333 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 2287 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,703 psi | 87% | 2224 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,385 psi | 90% | 2300 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 2274 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,574 psi | 90% | 2339 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,062 psi | 78% | 2283 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 2359 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2297 fps | 97.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 2310 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 2244 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,505 psi | 63% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,153 psi | 89% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,731 psi | 85% | 2356 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,572 psi | 85% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,554 psi | 77% | 2303 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,208 psi | 80% | 2323 fps | 96.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 2270 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 2333 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 2300 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,385 psi | 90% | 2300 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 2244 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2343 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 2231 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,239 psi | 86% | 2267 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 2297 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 2195 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 2195 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,789 psi | 85% | 2270 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 2270 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,181 psi | 86% | 2293 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,232 psi | 69% | 2241 fps | 99.2% |
| Unknown powderᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,703 psi | 87% | 2343 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2251 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 2280 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,687 psi | 83% | 2290 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 2283 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,454 psi | 81% | 2293 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,789 psi | 85% | 2280 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 2333 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 2323 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% | 39,363 psi | 71% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 77% | 2175 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,430 psi | 57% | 2014 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 66% | 2123 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 54% | 2001 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,229 psi | 62% | 2142 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 66% | 2100 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,938 psi | 60% | 2021 fps | 95% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 70% | 2113 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,086 psi | 67% | 2116 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,222 psi | 80% | 2274 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 44.3 gr | 82% | 34,780 psi | 63% | 2149 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,559 psi | 54% | 1988 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 82% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,198 psi | 58% | 2041 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,201 psi | 66% | 2162 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,372 psi | 57% | 2087 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 64% | 2096 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,616 psi | 52% | 1985 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,495 psi | 73% | 2113 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,143 psi | 66% | 2126 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,871 psi | 72% | 2234 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 74% | 2152 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,709 psi | 67% | 2123 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 66% | 2110 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,792 psi | 56% | 2028 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 56% | 2037 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,483 psi | 46% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,692 psi | 59% | 2021 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,372 psi | 59% | 2060 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,140 psi | 58% | 1998 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 2221 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 84% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,069 psi | 62% | 2119 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,909 psi | 60% | 2067 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 70% | 2113 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 77% | 2182 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 62% | 2080 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 68% | 2057 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 58% | 2008 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,277 psi | 73% | 2162 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,346 psi | 64% | 2064 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 64% | 2077 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,560 psi | 57% | 2031 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,621 psi | 65% | 2152 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,214 psi | 60% | 2083 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,785 psi | 74% | 2156 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 67% | 2129 fps | 97.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,437 psi | 75% | 2152 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,469 psi | 46% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,062 psi | 78% | 2188 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,786 psi | 78% | 2201 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 41.9 gr | 80% | 33,040 psi | 60% | 2113 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 42.6 gr | 80% | 27,514 psi | 50% | 1998 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,260 psi | 68% | 2211 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,278 psi | 75% | 2270 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 71% | 2106 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 61% | 2021 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,935 psi | 53% | 1985 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,277 psi | 73% | 2162 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 62% | 2080 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 58% | 2008 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 83% | 2201 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,474 psi | 59% | 2073 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,876 psi | 83% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,551 psi | 70% | 2129 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,751 psi | 63% | 2073 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 68% | 2037 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,472 psi | 55% | 1929 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,828 psi | 74% | 2178 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,622 psi | 66% | 2041 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 2087 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,153 psi | 55% | 1995 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,760 psi | 50% | 2011 fps | 95.6% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,204 psi | 71% | 2205 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 77% | 2100 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 68% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,532 psi | 59% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 61% | 2028 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,832 psi | 49% | 1906 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,492 psi | 68% | 2152 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,971 psi | 69% | 2106 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,126 psi | 58% | 2014 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,347 psi | 66% | 2156 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,589 psi | 57% | 2011 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 72% | 2195 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,250 psi | 77% | 2224 fps | 98.9% |
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 104 powders for 8.5 x 63 R loaded with the .338 | 250gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid. Alliant Reloder-17 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,425 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,378 fps to 2,425 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 104 of the 104 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 250.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:11.0 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 52 rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 63 R with the .338 | 250gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2700, Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-26 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.