Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 8.6 mm Blackout with .338 | 280gr | Discreet Ballistics Selous Machined Expander bullet and 85 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon CFE223, 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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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 16"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,753 psi | 90% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,984 psi | 87% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,014 psi | 90% | 1962 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,693 psi | 85% | 1932 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,650 psi | 85% | 1916 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,299 psi | 80% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,014 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,014 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,673 psi | 74% | 1883 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,230 psi | 86% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,694 psi | 87% | 1854 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,114 psi | 86% | 1946 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,795 psi | 87% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,530 psi | 77% | 1864 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,797 psi | 90% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,708 psi | 85% | 1923 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,463 psi | 88% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,563 psi | 85% | 2005 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,543 psi | 74% | 1877 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,521 psi | 88% | 1906 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,778 psi | 80% | 1926 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,217 psi | 89% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,680 psi | 88% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,606 psi | 85% | 1955 fps | 96.2% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,992 psi | 73% | 1880 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,884 psi | 90% | 1919 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,129 psi | 87% | 1978 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,751 psi | 85% | 2001 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,534 psi | 85% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,912 psi | 89% | 1955 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,999 psi | 89% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,447 psi | 86% | 1955 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,849 psi | 77% | 1929 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,446 psi | 53% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,314 psi | 81% | 1906 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,502 psi | 80% | 1936 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,681 psi | 90% | 1883 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,144 psi | 89% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,982 psi | 82% | 1952 fps | 97.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,708 psi | 85% | 1923 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,534 psi | 86% | 1926 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,679 psi | 85% | 1919 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,579 psi | 88% | 1972 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,781 psi | 87% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,506 psi | 88% | 1906 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,908 psi | 79% | 1893 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,043 psi | 89% | 1896 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,970 psi | 89% | 1946 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,028 psi | 89% | 1955 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,850 psi | 79% | 1919 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,444 psi | 80% | 1936 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,507 psi | 90% | 1978 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,014 psi | 89% | 1929 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,750 psi | 53% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,521 psi | 90% | 1854 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,085 psi | 86% | 1923 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,722 psi | 85% | 2011 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,541 psi | 71% | 1906 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,012 psi | 86% | 1909 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,968 psi | 84% | 1906 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,844 psi | 68% | 1834 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,534 psi | 86% | 1926 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,579 psi | 88% | 1972 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,908 psi | 79% | 1893 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,766 psi | 87% | 1903 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,347 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,014 psi | 90% | 1962 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,782 psi | 90% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,869 psi | 89% | 1965 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,173 psi | 89% | 1890 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,312 psi | 77% | 1818 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,143 psi | 87% | 1955 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,375 psi | 86% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,911 psi | 87% | 1946 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,338 psi | 70% | 1841 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,230 psi | 86% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,505 psi | 86% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,085 psi | 86% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,068 psi | 81% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,301 psi | 83% | 1903 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,434 psi | 59% | 1732 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,041 psi | 86% | 1932 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,764 psi | 82% | 1916 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,751 psi | 85% | 1969 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,157 psi | 86% | 1962 fps | 98.1% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 16"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,806 psi | 79% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,765 psi | 54% | 1637 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,992 psi | 74% | 1844 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,833 psi | 74% | 1850 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,289 psi | 58% | 1696 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,281 psi | 42% | 1555 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,460 psi | 51% | 1673 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,460 psi | 51% | 1673 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,369 psi | 45% | 1604 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,409 psi | 67% | 1706 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,801 psi | 68% | 1713 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,134 psi | 67% | 1798 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,847 psi | 73% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,818 psi | 73% | 1831 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 65% | 1772 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,362 psi | 59% | 1709 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,125 psi | 49% | 1654 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,198 psi | 80% | 1965 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,711 psi | 61% | 1772 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,986 psi | 62% | 1719 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,904 psi | 71% | 1854 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,963 psi | 74% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,915 psi | 65% | 1706 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,256 psi | 80% | 1916 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,422 psi | 64% | 1808 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 56% | 1644 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,999 psi | 59% | 1749 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | 37.1 gr | 90% | 46,804 psi | 74% | 1916 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,650 psi | 55% | 1680 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 63% | 1762 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 70% | 1736 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,972 psi | 63% | 1772 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,335 psi | 64% | 1814 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,918 psi | 39% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,509 psi | 64% | 1765 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,383 psi | 43% | 1588 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,030 psi | 63% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,939 psi | 84% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,337 psi | 69% | 1841 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,362 psi | 59% | 1709 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 70% | 1804 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,042 psi | 57% | 1693 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,460 psi | 51% | 1673 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,706 psi | 82% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,714 psi | 69% | 1765 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,898 psi | 58% | 1716 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,787 psi | 69% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,030 psi | 62% | 1736 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,269 psi | 48% | 1608 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,063 psi | 70% | 1844 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,338 psi | 70% | 1857 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,598 psi | 69% | 1827 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,236 psi | 69% | 1778 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,976 psi | 40% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,910 psi | 84% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,086 psi | 59% | 1703 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,978 psi | 74% | 1926 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,738 psi | 58% | 1781 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,069 psi | 54% | 1644 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,970 psi | 59% | 1699 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,335 psi | 64% | 1801 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 70% | 1804 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,460 psi | 51% | 1673 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,898 psi | 58% | 1716 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 62% | 1709 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,311 psi | 75% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,973 psi | 65% | 1772 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,349 psi | 62% | 1722 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,163 psi | 68% | 1811 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,416 psi | 51% | 1585 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,847 psi | 44% | 1522 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,072 psi | 59% | 1722 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,763 psi | 50% | 1591 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,078 psi | 71% | 1831 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,843 psi | 66% | 1808 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,830 psi | 68% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 58% | 1647 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,284 psi | 48% | 1565 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,311 psi | 43% | 1565 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,282 psi | 45% | 1562 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,317 psi | 56% | 1696 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,666 psi | 58% | 1706 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,689 psi | 47% | 1604 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 33.4 gr | 82% | 35,955 psi | 57% | 1732 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | 36.3 gr | 84% | 40,959 psi | 65% | 1798 fps | 95.2% |
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 96 powders for 8.6 mm Blackout loaded with the .338 | 280gr | Discreet Ballistics Selous Machined Expander. ReloadSwiss RS 52 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,011 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,112 fps to 2,011 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 96 of the 96 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (435 MPa), the top charges use 50–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 280.0 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 2208 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. Hodgdon CFE223, Winchester StaBALL Match, Winchester 748 rank at the top here: for 8.6 mm Blackout with the .338 | 280gr | Discreet Ballistics Selous Machined Expander they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon H380, Ramshot TAC burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.