Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 with .338 | 160gr | Barnes TTSX FB bullet and 79 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Winchester StaBALL Match and Winchester 748.
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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Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,144 psi | 90% | 3035 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3005 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,399 psi | 78% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,911 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,911 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,918 psi | 72% | 2890 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 2927 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3045 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 3015 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,795 psi | 86% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,455 psi | 73% | 2887 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2959 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 96.3% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,904 psi | 72% | 2887 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,434 psi | 89% | 2959 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 3038 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,489 psi | 84% | 3064 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 3012 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 3005 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,834 psi | 77% | 2963 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,025 psi | 53% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,285 psi | 81% | 2936 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,849 psi | 78% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,807 psi | 81% | 2995 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 3015 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,692 psi | 84% | 2966 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 3012 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 3028 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 2933 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,617 psi | 78% | 2910 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 2992 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 3015 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,660 psi | 78% | 2946 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,753 psi | 89% | 3041 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 2966 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,011 psi | 53% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,679 psi | 88% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 3015 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,518 psi | 84% | 3077 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,598 psi | 70% | 2917 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,448 psi | 89% | 2992 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,503 psi | 83% | 2933 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,692 psi | 84% | 2966 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 3028 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,617 psi | 78% | 2910 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,301 psi | 85% | 2927 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,809 psi | 86% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,608 psi | 89% | 3022 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 3015 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 2913 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,137 psi | 76% | 2805 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,246 psi | 90% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 2982 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,333 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,794 psi | 85% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,996 psi | 83% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,184 psi | 82% | 2930 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 3028 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,923 psi | 82% | 2953 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 3015 fps | 97.6% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,414 psi | 78% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,097 psi | 51% | 2533 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,967 psi | 83% | 2966 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,559 psi | 78% | 2907 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,476 psi | 55% | 2605 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,149 psi | 39% | 2372 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,534 psi | 57% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,534 psi | 57% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 2559 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 68% | 2703 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,960 psi | 69% | 2713 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,427 psi | 74% | 2881 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 70% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 62% | 2730 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 65% | 2740 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 47% | 2546 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 53 gr | 84% | 42,815 psi | 69% | 2890 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,540 psi | 68% | 2831 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 59% | 2654 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,078 psi | 72% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 63% | 2635 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,634 psi | 84% | 2995 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,930 psi | 67% | 2831 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,377 psi | 62% | 2644 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,145 psi | 61% | 2743 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,950 psi | 78% | 3002 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,895 psi | 53% | 2589 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 61% | 2717 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,554 psi | 68% | 2697 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,772 psi | 70% | 2838 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,901 psi | 67% | 2841 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,250 psi | 39% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,237 psi | 71% | 2825 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,398 psi | 44% | 2490 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,580 psi | 62% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,387 psi | 82% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,614 psi | 72% | 2884 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 65% | 2740 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,351 psi | 68% | 2782 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,782 psi | 59% | 2657 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,534 psi | 57% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,183 psi | 80% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,165 psi | 72% | 2776 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,234 psi | 65% | 2746 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,626 psi | 67% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,682 psi | 64% | 2720 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,547 psi | 52% | 2579 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,614 psi | 73% | 2887 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,310 psi | 73% | 2864 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,138 psi | 77% | 2854 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,163 psi | 39% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,256 psi | 82% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,418 psi | 57% | 2625 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,066 psi | 79% | 3018 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,189 psi | 61% | 2789 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,968 psi | 54% | 2579 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,972 psi | 64% | 2720 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,351 psi | 68% | 2782 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,534 psi | 57% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,234 psi | 65% | 2746 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,337 psi | 69% | 2753 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,803 psi | 73% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,653 psi | 64% | 2736 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,247 psi | 63% | 2720 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,049 psi | 72% | 2848 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,967 psi | 53% | 2503 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 30,168 psi | 48% | 2454 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2766 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 48% | 2451 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,818 psi | 75% | 2864 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,959 psi | 66% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,577 psi | 55% | 2552 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 46% | 2418 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,905 psi | 43% | 2461 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,458 psi | 49% | 2507 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,219 psi | 64% | 2746 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,053 psi | 51% | 2569 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | 54.6 gr | 84% | 36,912 psi | 59% | 2717 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | 59.3 gr | 86% | 42,641 psi | 68% | 2818 fps | 95% |
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 loaded with the .338 | 160gr | Barnes TTSX FB. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,133 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,795 fps to 3,133 fps. Accurate 2495 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 (430 MPa), the top charges use 53–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 160.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:14.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2206H 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 1200-R, Winchester StaBALL Match, Winchester 748 rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 63 with the .338 | 160gr | Barnes TTSX FB 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.