Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22-250 Ackley Improved with .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB bullet and 43 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-10x, Hodgdon H322 and Alliant AR-Comp.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,953 psi | 90% | 3963 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,126 psi | 88% | 4016 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,198 psi | 87% | 3996 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,024 psi | 88% | 4045 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,298 psi | 85% | 4016 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,298 psi | 85% | 4016 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,137 psi | 81% | 3983 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,661 psi | 86% | 3921 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,009 psi | 86% | 3930 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,458 psi | 85% | 4006 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,243 psi | 90% | 4104 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,082 psi | 88% | 4121 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,242 psi | 88% | 4068 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,329 psi | 89% | 4012 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,460 psi | 90% | 3944 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,661 psi | 86% | 4052 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,054 psi | 90% | 4075 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,155 psi | 88% | 3990 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,314 psi | 56% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,980 psi | 86% | 4117 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,576 psi | 89% | 4052 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,038 psi | 86% | 4026 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,241 psi | 87% | 3986 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,907 psi | 84% | 4009 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,937 psi | 88% | 4039 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,603 psi | 86% | 4019 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 56% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,372 psi | 87% | 4022 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,299 psi | 87% | 4016 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,038 psi | 86% | 4026 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,907 psi | 84% | 4009 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,125 psi | 86% | 3740 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,356 psi | 85% | 4016 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,808 psi | 89% | 4075 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,286 psi | 90% | 3980 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,080 psi | 83% | 3881 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,213 psi | 88% | 3967 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,330 psi | 90% | 3993 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,430 psi | 87% | 3970 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,285 psi | 87% | 3963 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,691 psi | 87% | 4049 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,008 psi | 85% | 3963 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,559 psi | 85% | 3996 fps | 97.3% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,675 psi | 84% | 3894 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,345 psi | 59% | 3589 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,540 psi | 75% | 3839 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,909 psi | 57% | 3583 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,600 psi | 79% | 3927 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,600 psi | 79% | 3927 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,060 psi | 71% | 3829 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,843 psi | 70% | 3707 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,891 psi | 81% | 3858 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,482 psi | 75% | 3875 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 67% | 3780 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 31.8 gr | 80% | 29,457 psi | 51% | 3520 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | 31 gr | 80% | 36,854 psi | 64% | 3711 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,049 psi | 78% | 3875 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 69% | 3655 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 34.3 gr | 86% | 40,466 psi | 70% | 3819 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,684 psi | 72% | 3825 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,989 psi | 72% | 3770 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,873 psi | 41% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,116 psi | 66% | 3816 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 66% | 3727 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,311 psi | 80% | 3937 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,992 psi | 81% | 3911 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,600 psi | 79% | 3927 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 72% | 3825 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,424 psi | 75% | 3871 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,757 psi | 41% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,804 psi | 81% | 3937 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,222 psi | 76% | 3868 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,311 psi | 80% | 3937 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,600 psi | 79% | 3927 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 78% | 3648 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,062 psi | 74% | 3862 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,057 psi | 64% | 3707 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,757 psi | 74% | 3763 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,523 psi | 68% | 3671 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,291 psi | 68% | 3681 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,611 psi | 70% | 3750 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,418 psi | 59% | 3563 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,461 psi | 59% | 3566 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,518 psi | 58% | 3612 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,074 psi | 69% | 3747 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,076 psi | 74% | 3845 fps | 95.6% |
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 43 powders for .22-250 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 4,121 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,726 fps to 4,121 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (400 MPa), the top charges use 56–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 36.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 Reloder-10x, Hodgdon H322, Alliant AR-Comp rank at the top here: for .22-250 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade 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.