Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 with .338 | 180gr | Ferrobull Entox Sport bullet and 89 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 Hodgdon CFE223.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,374 psi | 86% | 2841 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,838 psi | 86% | 2848 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,071 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2877 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,039 psi | 82% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,157 psi | 87% | 2736 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,549 psi | 87% | 2871 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,402 psi | 84% | 2812 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,243 psi | 85% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,244 psi | 87% | 2838 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,434 psi | 90% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,448 psi | 89% | 2943 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 2969 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,792 psi | 81% | 2828 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2904 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,991 psi | 72% | 2802 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 2759 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 97.4% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,575 psi | 81% | 2838 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2782 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2917 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,665 psi | 88% | 2953 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,317 psi | 89% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,333 psi | 90% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2851 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,608 psi | 89% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,940 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,345 psi | 86% | 2910 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,605 psi | 54% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 2740 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,258 psi | 85% | 2887 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,244 psi | 87% | 2838 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 2835 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 2828 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,896 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 2822 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2894 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,056 psi | 88% | 2917 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2844 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,795 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,721 psi | 54% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 2835 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,969 psi | 88% | 2966 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,225 psi | 77% | 2884 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,287 psi | 85% | 2815 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,847 psi | 75% | 2769 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 2835 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,896 psi | 86% | 2844 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 2805 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,356 psi | 79% | 2831 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,823 psi | 85% | 2812 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,011 psi | 85% | 2841 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,217 psi | 90% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,953 psi | 83% | 2730 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 2877 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,737 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 2867 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,254 psi | 77% | 2779 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,470 psi | 75% | 2717 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,216 psi | 89% | 2841 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,815 psi | 69% | 2644 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,333 psi | 90% | 2907 fps | 99% |
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% | 52,475 psi | 84% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 57% | 2467 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,543 psi | 75% | 2723 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,601 psi | 75% | 2730 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 62% | 2556 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 44% | 2343 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,808 psi | 54% | 2490 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,050 psi | 45% | 2365 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,657 psi | 72% | 2575 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,005 psi | 72% | 2589 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,755 psi | 64% | 2605 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,138 psi | 77% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,526 psi | 70% | 2657 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,192 psi | 69% | 2664 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,086 psi | 59% | 2526 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,909 psi | 53% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 64% | 2657 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 60.6 gr | 94% | 47,311 psi | 76% | 2841 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,651 psi | 59% | 2566 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,756 psi | 65% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,699 psi | 68% | 2687 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,450 psi | 63% | 2684 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,153 psi | 79% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,062 psi | 69% | 2562 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,599 psi | 72% | 2717 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,839 psi | 57% | 2562 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 59% | 2480 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,548 psi | 55% | 2523 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 56.8 gr | 86% | 44,208 psi | 71% | 2769 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 63% | 2595 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,074 psi | 64% | 2608 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,298 psi | 79% | 2789 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,197 psi | 79% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,507 psi | 60% | 2566 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,232 psi | 61% | 2628 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,758 psi | 40% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,740 psi | 62% | 2572 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,299 psi | 50% | 2470 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,888 psi | 69% | 2641 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,206 psi | 68% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,930 psi | 66% | 2664 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,086 psi | 59% | 2526 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,050 psi | 75% | 2720 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 61% | 2552 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 48% | 2415 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,089 psi | 66% | 2562 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,708 psi | 56% | 2490 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,919 psi | 74% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,347 psi | 58% | 2513 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,923 psi | 51% | 2428 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,218 psi | 63% | 2621 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,105 psi | 68% | 2694 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,822 psi | 83% | 2789 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,133 psi | 66% | 2641 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,408 psi | 65% | 2569 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,758 psi | 40% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 63% | 2569 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 56.3 gr | 90% | 41,684 psi | 67% | 2733 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,606 psi | 55% | 2579 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 56% | 2470 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,622 psi | 59% | 2510 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,232 psi | 61% | 2605 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,050 psi | 75% | 2720 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 48% | 2415 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,708 psi | 56% | 2490 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,423 psi | 66% | 2579 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,095 psi | 79% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 70% | 2674 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,625 psi | 65% | 2667 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 66% | 2595 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,182 psi | 79% | 2756 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2625 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,881 psi | 54% | 2395 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,398 psi | 44% | 2254 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,767 psi | 59% | 2539 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,257 psi | 53% | 2398 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,467 psi | 68% | 2648 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,697 psi | 64% | 2618 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,167 psi | 77% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,667 psi | 62% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 54% | 2408 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 46% | 2362 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 2362 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,257 psi | 53% | 2454 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,811 psi | 59% | 2516 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,819 psi | 46% | 2343 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,030 psi | 64% | 2589 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,054 psi | 53% | 2490 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,275 psi | 60% | 2572 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 104 powders for 8.5 x 63 loaded with the .338 | 180gr | Ferrobull Entox Sport. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,969 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,699 fps to 2,969 fps. Accurate 2495 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 (430 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 180.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:15.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Accurate 4350 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, Hodgdon CFE223 rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 63 with the .338 | 180gr | Ferrobull Entox Sport they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2700, Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16 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.