Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22-250 Ackley Improved with .224 | 45gr | Sierra VarmintKing bullet and 60 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, IMR 3031 and Hodgdon BL-C2.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,153 psi | 85% | 3678 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,039 psi | 88% | 3734 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,545 psi | 85% | 3727 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,791 psi | 84% | 3720 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,342 psi | 85% | 3750 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,460 psi | 90% | 3688 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,588 psi | 86% | 3642 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,706 psi | 89% | 3793 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,313 psi | 85% | 3750 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,184 psi | 88% | 3750 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,821 psi | 86% | 3776 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,605 psi | 89% | 3878 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,764 psi | 89% | 3796 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,924 psi | 90% | 3770 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,982 psi | 90% | 3655 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,185 psi | 90% | 3809 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,212 psi | 87% | 3688 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,922 psi | 86% | 3763 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,401 psi | 89% | 3793 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,400 psi | 85% | 3734 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,170 psi | 90% | 3809 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,604 psi | 87% | 3816 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,692 psi | 58% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,502 psi | 87% | 3747 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,459 psi | 87% | 3825 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,197 psi | 85% | 3684 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,184 psi | 88% | 3750 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,068 psi | 88% | 3734 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,270 psi | 87% | 3760 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,359 psi | 90% | 3720 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,605 psi | 89% | 3766 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,750 psi | 89% | 3740 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,517 psi | 87% | 3734 fps | 97.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,749 psi | 88% | 3760 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,648 psi | 89% | 3802 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,605 psi | 58% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,676 psi | 87% | 3747 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,284 psi | 85% | 3845 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,213 psi | 88% | 3747 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,647 psi | 87% | 3724 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,576 psi | 89% | 3786 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,270 psi | 87% | 3760 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,605 psi | 89% | 3766 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,560 psi | 87% | 3691 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,937 psi | 86% | 3747 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,443 psi | 85% | 3727 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,153 psi | 85% | 3638 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,417 psi | 90% | 3694 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,834 psi | 84% | 3711 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,866 psi | 89% | 3698 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,255 psi | 85% | 3727 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,388 psi | 90% | 3704 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,228 psi | 90% | 3701 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,182 psi | 85% | 3724 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,271 psi | 88% | 3727 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,734 psi | 87% | 3714 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,735 psi | 89% | 3753 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,980 psi | 86% | 3711 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,502 psi | 87% | 3793 fps | 98% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,632 psi | 86% | 3740 fps | 96.2% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,681 psi | 65% | 3412 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,263 psi | 71% | 3514 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,226 psi | 52% | 3228 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,291 psi | 68% | 3494 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,012 psi | 60% | 3392 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,180 psi | 80% | 3560 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,499 psi | 80% | 3573 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,530 psi | 84% | 3720 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,716 psi | 79% | 3668 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,701 psi | 77% | 3606 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,998 psi | 60% | 3438 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,254 psi | 83% | 3802 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,397 psi | 78% | 3655 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,917 psi | 74% | 3579 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,759 psi | 79% | 3530 fps | 99.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,179 psi | 78% | 3655 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,611 psi | 72% | 3488 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 37.7 gr | 86% | 43,076 psi | 74% | 3609 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,684 psi | 72% | 3573 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,714 psi | 74% | 3579 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,513 psi | 78% | 3661 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,135 psi | 76% | 3665 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,801 psi | 43% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,949 psi | 81% | 3671 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | 31.8 gr | 80% | 33,214 psi | 57% | 3389 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,381 psi | 75% | 3563 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,701 psi | 77% | 3606 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,002 psi | 71% | 3497 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,768 psi | 65% | 3461 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,197 psi | 85% | 3655 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,496 psi | 73% | 3556 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,486 psi | 84% | 3675 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,440 psi | 77% | 3596 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,274 psi | 63% | 3406 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,414 psi | 83% | 3730 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,816 psi | 43% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,408 psi | 71% | 3530 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 39.7 gr | 92% | 40,001 psi | 69% | 3593 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,536 psi | 65% | 3415 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,512 psi | 77% | 3586 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,020 psi | 78% | 3642 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,768 psi | 65% | 3461 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,496 psi | 73% | 3556 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,369 psi | 82% | 3622 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 80% | 3671 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,540 psi | 75% | 3596 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,882 psi | 62% | 3310 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,156 psi | 57% | 3238 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,337 psi | 73% | 3560 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 61% | 3304 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,137 psi | 80% | 3655 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 70% | 3458 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,766 psi | 62% | 3330 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,835 psi | 53% | 3258 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,316 psi | 59% | 3320 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,510 psi | 72% | 3507 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,005 psi | 78% | 3602 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,404 psi | 61% | 3353 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,741 psi | 70% | 3566 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,543 psi | 80% | 3671 fps | 95.4% |
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 60 powders for .22-250 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 45gr | Sierra VarmintKing. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,878 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,497 fps to 3,878 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 60 of the 60 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (400 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Rottweil R 903 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, IMR 3031, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .22-250 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 45gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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.