Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22-250 Ackley Improved with .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint bullet and 73 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon VARGET, ReloadSwiss RS 60 and IMR 3031.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,314 psi | 88% | 3570 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,763 psi | 86% | 3563 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,054 psi | 90% | 3622 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,284 psi | 85% | 3599 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,866 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,169 psi | 88% | 3514 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,517 psi | 89% | 3537 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,459 psi | 87% | 3622 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,663 psi | 89% | 3615 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,488 psi | 89% | 3642 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 86% | 3583 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,127 psi | 90% | 3658 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,546 psi | 87% | 3707 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,763 psi | 88% | 3638 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,923 psi | 88% | 3593 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,474 psi | 89% | 3658 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,851 psi | 89% | 3743 fps | 97.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,531 psi | 87% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,865 psi | 88% | 3645 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,185 psi | 90% | 3589 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,315 psi | 90% | 3671 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,342 psi | 85% | 3599 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,952 psi | 88% | 3619 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,865 psi | 88% | 3642 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,298 psi | 85% | 3652 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,924 psi | 59% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,256 psi | 88% | 3625 fps | 97.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,923 psi | 88% | 3681 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,096 psi | 86% | 3579 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,140 psi | 88% | 3563 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,400 psi | 85% | 3632 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 86% | 3583 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,414 psi | 85% | 3560 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,284 psi | 85% | 3599 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,807 psi | 88% | 3553 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,401 psi | 87% | 3599 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,182 psi | 85% | 3566 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,443 psi | 85% | 3589 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,633 psi | 87% | 3642 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,314 psi | 88% | 3661 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,458 psi | 85% | 3596 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,155 psi | 88% | 3573 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,243 psi | 59% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,545 psi | 85% | 3583 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,836 psi | 88% | 3724 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,416 psi | 89% | 3763 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,067 psi | 86% | 3576 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,690 psi | 86% | 3566 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,676 psi | 87% | 3629 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,284 psi | 85% | 3599 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,401 psi | 87% | 3599 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,037 psi | 85% | 3520 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,764 psi | 89% | 3635 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,530 psi | 85% | 3635 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,779 psi | 89% | 3615 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,388 psi | 90% | 3645 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,111 psi | 88% | 3533 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,981 psi | 88% | 3524 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,937 psi | 88% | 3619 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,473 psi | 87% | 3530 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,213 psi | 88% | 3596 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,619 psi | 89% | 3638 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,648 psi | 89% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,748 psi | 86% | 3507 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,488 psi | 87% | 3530 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,764 psi | 89% | 3619 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,269 psi | 85% | 3553 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,006 psi | 79% | 3488 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,400 psi | 85% | 3593 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,182 psi | 85% | 3573 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,994 psi | 84% | 3527 fps | 97% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,908 psi | 86% | 3638 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,343 psi | 87% | 3615 fps | 97.2% |
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% | 39,479 psi | 68% | 3320 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,178 psi | 74% | 3422 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,082 psi | 55% | 3159 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 64% | 3307 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,489 psi | 56% | 3186 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,950 psi | 83% | 3451 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,298 psi | 83% | 3471 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,297 psi | 82% | 3553 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,414 psi | 83% | 3547 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,703 psi | 82% | 3566 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,973 psi | 71% | 3376 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,637 psi | 63% | 3340 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,063 psi | 76% | 3556 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,611 psi | 72% | 3432 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,860 psi | 77% | 3471 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,240 psi | 83% | 3589 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,034 psi | 78% | 3583 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,152 psi | 81% | 3422 fps | 99.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,365 psi | 71% | 3432 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,480 psi | 70% | 3323 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,131 psi | 67% | 3369 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,176 psi | 69% | 3389 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,311 psi | 82% | 3547 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,657 psi | 77% | 3501 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,236 psi | 75% | 3510 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,077 psi | 43% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | 34.9 gr | 90% | 44,918 psi | 77% | 3484 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | 30 gr | 80% | 32,039 psi | 55% | 3219 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,891 psi | 81% | 3507 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,426 psi | 78% | 3451 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,253 psi | 80% | 3560 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,973 psi | 71% | 3376 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,960 psi | 74% | 3415 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 60% | 3241 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,121 psi | 78% | 3428 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,394 psi | 71% | 3396 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,698 psi | 70% | 3366 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 62% | 3255 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,367 psi | 77% | 3501 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,718 psi | 82% | 3586 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,340 psi | 80% | 3527 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,051 psi | 83% | 3507 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,179 psi | 43% | 2178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,120 psi | 74% | 3435 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,456 psi | 82% | 3648 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 37.9 gr | 90% | 39,247 psi | 68% | 3448 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,218 psi | 68% | 3323 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,147 psi | 71% | 3366 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,150 psi | 76% | 3488 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 60% | 3241 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,394 psi | 71% | 3396 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,890 psi | 79% | 3451 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,515 psi | 84% | 3570 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,035 psi | 79% | 3556 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,179 psi | 78% | 3481 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,672 psi | 79% | 3504 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 64% | 3215 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 52% | 3022 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,220 psi | 71% | 3396 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 64% | 3219 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,950 psi | 83% | 3530 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,194 psi | 78% | 3501 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,704 psi | 84% | 3442 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,481 psi | 72% | 3337 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,838 psi | 60% | 3173 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,271 psi | 56% | 3173 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,272 psi | 57% | 3163 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,145 psi | 66% | 3297 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,379 psi | 70% | 3379 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,880 psi | 57% | 3166 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,556 psi | 79% | 3451 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,089 psi | 69% | 3412 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 74% | 3455 fps | 95.3% |
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 73 powders for .22-250 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,763 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,372 fps to 3,763 fps. Alliant Reloder-17 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 73 of the 73 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (400 MPa), the top charges use 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 VARGET, ReloadSwiss RS 60, IMR 3031 rank at the top here: for .22-250 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 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.