Load Specifications
Bullet:.338 | 225gr | Barnes TSX FB
Bullet Manufacturer:Barnes
Bullet Weight:225 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.338"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Caliber:8.5 x 63 load data
Case Length (l3):2.48"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:75.5 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Large Rifle (LR)
Barrel Length:23.62"
Max. allowed Pressure:62,366 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:13.5
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 with .338 | 225gr | Barnes TSX FB bullet and 99 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, Hodgdon CFE223 and Ramshot Big Game.
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>> | 90% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,317 psi | 89% | 2552 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 2566 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,924 psi | 85% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,824 psi | 88% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,323 psi | 69% | 2461 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,969 psi | 88% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2438 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,766 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,549 psi | 87% | 2539 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,316 psi | 85% | 2510 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,246 psi | 90% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2602 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2644 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,737 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,824 psi | 88% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,505 psi | 87% | 2579 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2470 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,560 psi | 81% | 2608 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,330 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 2618 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2510 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,926 psi | 88% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2585 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,201 psi | 87% | 2556 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,176 psi | 64% | 2369 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,461 psi | 55% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2559 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,200 psi | 85% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2526 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 2507 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,434 psi | 89% | 2431 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,925 psi | 86% | 2520 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,611 psi | 67% | 2411 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,869 psi | 90% | 2605 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,316 psi | 85% | 2510 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,852 psi | 85% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 2487 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 2523 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,211 psi | 79% | 2464 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,903 psi | 70% | 2461 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,273 psi | 87% | 2592 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2520 fps | 97.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2585 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 2513 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,534 psi | 55% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,127 psi | 85% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 2516 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,346 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,099 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,395 psi | 70% | 2480 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,976 psi | 72% | 2500 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,185 psi | 85% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,461 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,211 psi | 79% | 2464 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 2523 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,982 psi | 85% | 2470 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,695 psi | 89% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2536 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,579 psi | 89% | 2618 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 2546 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 2566 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,955 psi | 88% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,273 psi | 87% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 2539 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2559 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,885 psi | 62% | 2411 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,246 psi | 90% | 2379 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,868 psi | 88% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,042 psi | 88% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,142 psi | 85% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,518 psi | 84% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,354 psi | 74% | 2461 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 2507 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,136 psi | 72% | 2464 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,688 psi | 76% | 2457 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 99.9% |
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% | 39,987 psi | 64% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 2500 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,330 psi | 84% | 2513 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,279 psi | 69% | 2349 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,068 psi | 51% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,566 psi | 62% | 2303 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,356 psi | 49% | 2156 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,434 psi | 60% | 2356 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,849 psi | 78% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,226 psi | 79% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 59% | 2260 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,200 psi | 85% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,491 psi | 57% | 2221 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,443 psi | 78% | 2434 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,682 psi | 62% | 2277 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,623 psi | 60% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,701 psi | 72% | 2448 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 50.4 gr | 84% | 37,840 psi | 61% | 2372 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,037 psi | 48% | 2142 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,498 psi | 73% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,896 psi | 56% | 2244 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,885 psi | 62% | 2372 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,026 psi | 55% | 2297 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,616 psi | 76% | 2336 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,130 psi | 61% | 2310 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,095 psi | 47% | 2133 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 65% | 2274 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,651 psi | 59% | 2287 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 49.1 gr | 80% | 40,364 psi | 65% | 2405 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 71% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,802 psi | 72% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,813 psi | 64% | 2336 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 59% | 2270 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,185 psi | 53% | 2228 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,851 psi | 53% | 2234 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,512 psi | 41% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,708 psi | 57% | 2231 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 57% | 2277 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,896 psi | 56% | 2205 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,747 psi | 78% | 2415 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,499 psi | 75% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,734 psi | 81% | 2474 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,535 psi | 59% | 2316 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,301 psi | 53% | 2221 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,682 psi | 62% | 2277 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 69% | 2352 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,708 psi | 56% | 2241 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,623 psi | 60% | 2215 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,213 psi | 52% | 2162 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,482 psi | 70% | 2372 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,271 psi | 82% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,897 psi | 58% | 2224 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,926 psi | 58% | 2238 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,923 psi | 51% | 2185 fps | 95% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,638 psi | 62% | 2365 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | 49.2 gr | 82% | 33,794 psi | 54% | 2244 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,321 psi | 66% | 2323 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,579 psi | 60% | 2290 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,105 psi | 68% | 2320 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,686 psi | 41% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 70% | 2356 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,514 psi | 75% | 2421 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,027 psi | 58% | 2329 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,775 psi | 45% | 2146 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,797 psi | 61% | 2375 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,018 psi | 67% | 2444 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,407 psi | 63% | 2270 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,026 psi | 55% | 2178 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,415 psi | 50% | 2182 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,482 psi | 70% | 2372 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,708 psi | 56% | 2241 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,213 psi | 52% | 2162 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,180 psi | 74% | 2372 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,924 psi | 85% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,689 psi | 78% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,909 psi | 53% | 2228 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,398 psi | 74% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,914 psi | 62% | 2290 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,259 psi | 57% | 2234 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,753 psi | 61% | 2198 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 49% | 2080 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 66% | 2346 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,188 psi | 60% | 2205 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 58% | 2247 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,676 psi | 49% | 2149 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,239 psi | 45% | 2165 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,113 psi | 85% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,931 psi | 69% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 61% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,967 psi | 53% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 54% | 2182 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,035 psi | 43% | 2044 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,072 psi | 61% | 2320 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 62% | 2270 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,518 psi | 52% | 2169 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,537 psi | 63% | 2365 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,966 psi | 51% | 2162 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,318 psi | 60% | 2306 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,345 psi | 55% | 2234 fps | 96.5% |
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 99 powders for 8.5 x 63 loaded with the .338 | 225gr | Barnes TSX FB. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,667 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,499 fps to 2,667 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 99 of the 99 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 225.0 gr projectile in 0.338" calls for a 1:13.5 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, Hodgdon CFE223, Ramshot Big Game rank at the top here: for 8.5 x 63 with the .338 | 225gr | Barnes TSX 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.