Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.5 x 63 with .338 | 250gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid bullet and 102 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.
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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% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 2280 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 2369 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,896 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,838 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,622 psi | 89% | 2329 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,592 psi | 86% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,554 psi | 68% | 2287 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,158 psi | 88% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2405 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,998 psi | 87% | 2359 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 2339 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2408 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2503 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 2287 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 2392 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,250 psi | 69% | 2293 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,676 psi | 80% | 2425 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,476 psi | 86% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 2418 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,940 psi | 88% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,215 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,678 psi | 84% | 2431 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,272 psi | 85% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2395 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,461 psi | 86% | 2372 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,436 psi | 63% | 2198 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,360 psi | 55% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 2379 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,028 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 2343 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 2329 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 2251 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduronᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,055 psi | 85% | 2339 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2241 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2418 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,303 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2303 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,501 psi | 78% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,809 psi | 86% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,173 psi | 90% | 2425 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,062 psi | 69% | 2283 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,243 psi | 85% | 2408 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,492 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,505 psi | 55% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,666 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,506 psi | 89% | 2382 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 2451 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,171 psi | 85% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,554 psi | 68% | 2303 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,208 psi | 71% | 2323 fps | 96.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,985 psi | 90% | 2339 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,446 psi | 84% | 2372 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,501 psi | 78% | 2290 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,303 psi | 89% | 2385 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,912 psi | 90% | 2333 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,143 psi | 88% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,679 psi | 88% | 2431 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 2362 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,897 psi | 88% | 2382 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,362 psi | 90% | 2306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,621 psi | 86% | 2356 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2379 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,232 psi | 61% | 2241 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,912 psi | 90% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,687 psi | 73% | 2290 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,069 psi | 85% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,454 psi | 71% | 2293 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,789 psi | 75% | 2280 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,593 psi | 89% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 2392 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% | 39,363 psi | 63% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,995 psi | 82% | 2320 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,634 psi | 83% | 2329 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 68% | 2175 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,430 psi | 50% | 2014 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,956 psi | 61% | 2139 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,257 psi | 84% | 2287 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 48% | 2001 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,229 psi | 55% | 2142 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,283 psi | 77% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,689 psi | 78% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 58% | 2100 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 2211 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,938 psi | 53% | 2021 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,732 psi | 77% | 2257 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 61% | 2113 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,086 psi | 59% | 2116 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,222 psi | 71% | 2274 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 44.3 gr | 82% | 34,780 psi | 56% | 2149 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,559 psi | 47% | 1988 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 72% | 2172 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,198 psi | 52% | 2041 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,201 psi | 58% | 2162 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,372 psi | 50% | 2087 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,963 psi | 75% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 56% | 2096 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,616 psi | 46% | 1985 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,495 psi | 65% | 2113 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,143 psi | 58% | 2126 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 44.3 gr | 80% | 39,871 psi | 64% | 2234 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,859 psi | 70% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,309 psi | 71% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,709 psi | 59% | 2123 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 58% | 2110 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,792 psi | 49% | 2028 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,445 psi | 52% | 2077 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,483 psi | 41% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,317 psi | 57% | 2073 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 56% | 2113 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,329 psi | 52% | 2005 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,979 psi | 77% | 2238 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 74% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,949 psi | 75% | 2254 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,897 psi | 58% | 2156 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,909 psi | 53% | 2067 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 61% | 2113 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 68% | 2182 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 55% | 2080 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 60% | 2057 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 51% | 2008 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,277 psi | 65% | 2162 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,502 psi | 81% | 2221 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,346 psi | 57% | 2064 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 57% | 2077 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,560 psi | 51% | 2031 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,621 psi | 57% | 2152 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,214 psi | 53% | 2083 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,785 psi | 65% | 2156 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 60% | 2129 fps | 97.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,437 psi | 66% | 2152 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,469 psi | 41% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,062 psi | 69% | 2188 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,786 psi | 69% | 2201 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 41.9 gr | 80% | 33,040 psi | 53% | 2113 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 44% | 1998 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 2211 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,278 psi | 66% | 2270 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 63% | 2106 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 54% | 2021 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,935 psi | 46% | 1985 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,277 psi | 65% | 2162 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,098 psi | 55% | 2080 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 51% | 2008 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 73% | 2201 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,417 psi | 84% | 1995 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,182 psi | 77% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,474 psi | 52% | 2073 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,876 psi | 74% | 2188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,551 psi | 62% | 2129 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,751 psi | 56% | 2073 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 60% | 2037 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,472 psi | 49% | 1929 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2178 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,622 psi | 59% | 2041 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 57% | 2087 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,153 psi | 48% | 1995 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 27,760 psi | 45% | 2011 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,779 psi | 85% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 68% | 2100 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 60% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,532 psi | 52% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 54% | 2028 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,832 psi | 43% | 1906 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,492 psi | 60% | 2152 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,971 psi | 61% | 2106 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,126 psi | 52% | 2014 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,347 psi | 58% | 2156 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,589 psi | 51% | 2011 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 59% | 2142 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 54% | 2073 fps | 96.9% |
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 117 powders for 8.5 x 63 loaded with the .338 | 250gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,503 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,378 fps to 2,503 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 117 of the 117 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 48–90 %, 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- TS 15.5, Alliant Reloder-16 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 | 250gr | Lehigh Defense Match Solid they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-26, Hodgdon H4350 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.