Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22-250 Ackley Improved with .224 | 52gr | Berger Varmint bullet and 72 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, ReloadSwiss RS 52 and Alliant Reloder-17.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,256 psi | 87% | 3497 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,127 psi | 90% | 3560 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,126 psi | 88% | 3553 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,156 psi | 90% | 3606 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,981 psi | 88% | 3589 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,429 psi | 85% | 3556 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,488 psi | 87% | 3543 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,953 psi | 90% | 3579 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,213 psi | 88% | 3586 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,661 psi | 86% | 3638 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,446 psi | 90% | 3727 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,705 psi | 86% | 3570 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,966 psi | 86% | 3520 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,473 psi | 87% | 3589 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,966 psi | 88% | 3684 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,475 psi | 90% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,256 psi | 87% | 3583 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,024 psi | 88% | 3517 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,256 psi | 88% | 3606 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,878 psi | 84% | 3625 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,735 psi | 89% | 3593 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,821 psi | 86% | 3570 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,083 psi | 90% | 3661 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,447 psi | 59% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,096 psi | 86% | 3556 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,459 psi | 87% | 3619 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,228 psi | 90% | 3576 fps | 97% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,082 psi | 86% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,721 psi | 89% | 3632 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,953 psi | 90% | 3579 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,185 psi | 90% | 3563 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,735 psi | 89% | 3596 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,632 psi | 86% | 3484 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,385 psi | 85% | 3530 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,387 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,721 psi | 89% | 3583 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,647 psi | 86% | 3576 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,285 psi | 87% | 3596 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,982 psi | 90% | 3602 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,024 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,461 psi | 59% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,735 psi | 89% | 3576 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,951 psi | 86% | 3658 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,575 psi | 87% | 3701 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,344 psi | 90% | 3573 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,895 psi | 89% | 3563 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,082 psi | 86% | 3573 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,735 psi | 89% | 3596 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,385 psi | 85% | 3530 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,198 psi | 88% | 3517 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,170 psi | 90% | 3642 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,357 psi | 87% | 3537 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,227 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,328 psi | 87% | 3471 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,154 psi | 86% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,850 psi | 86% | 3547 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,414 psi | 85% | 3458 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,096 psi | 86% | 3530 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,517 psi | 87% | 3570 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,814 psi | 72% | 3465 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,996 psi | 90% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,414 psi | 85% | 3458 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,807 psi | 88% | 3550 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,517 psi | 89% | 3547 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,602 psi | 84% | 3494 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,460 psi | 90% | 3602 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,706 psi | 89% | 3589 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,764 psi | 89% | 3576 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,446 psi | 90% | 3655 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,140 psi | 88% | 3533 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,965 psi | 84% | 3573 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,907 psi | 84% | 3543 fps | 97.4% |
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% | 41,234 psi | 71% | 3310 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 78% | 3425 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,866 psi | 58% | 3163 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 67% | 3317 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,952 psi | 55% | 3123 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,540 psi | 75% | 3419 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,355 psi | 82% | 3478 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 69% | 3304 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,943 psi | 67% | 3343 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,064 psi | 79% | 3556 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,762 psi | 84% | 3642 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,930 psi | 71% | 3366 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,746 psi | 81% | 3458 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,326 psi | 82% | 3520 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 40.2 gr | 94% | 44,048 psi | 76% | 3524 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,037 psi | 85% | 3412 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,727 psi | 70% | 3369 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,293 psi | 73% | 3323 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,537 psi | 66% | 3310 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,397 psi | 78% | 3547 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,293 psi | 73% | 3396 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,118 psi | 71% | 3366 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,813 psi | 69% | 3379 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,367 psi | 44% | 2106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,626 psi | 72% | 3363 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,765 psi | 58% | 3225 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,311 psi | 80% | 3451 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,268 psi | 82% | 3435 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,569 psi | 73% | 3428 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 69% | 3304 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,078 psi | 78% | 3419 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,405 psi | 63% | 3245 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,121 psi | 76% | 3360 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,435 psi | 66% | 3271 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,711 psi | 68% | 3297 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 64% | 3255 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,598 psi | 75% | 3438 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,830 psi | 76% | 3451 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,078 psi | 78% | 3451 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,555 psi | 75% | 3360 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,469 psi | 44% | 2152 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,150 psi | 78% | 3435 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 37.1 gr | 88% | 46,673 psi | 80% | 3586 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 36.8 gr | 86% | 35,810 psi | 62% | 3307 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 71% | 3320 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,451 psi | 70% | 3307 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,567 psi | 70% | 3356 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,405 psi | 63% | 3245 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,435 psi | 66% | 3271 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,935 psi | 83% | 3451 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,484 psi | 78% | 3497 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,456 psi | 82% | 3481 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,817 psi | 77% | 3435 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 67% | 3222 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,966 psi | 55% | 3031 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,192 psi | 74% | 3399 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,377 psi | 66% | 3215 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,685 psi | 75% | 3389 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,597 psi | 72% | 3369 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,117 psi | 67% | 3389 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,134 psi | 74% | 3323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,405 psi | 63% | 3169 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,243 psi | 59% | 3179 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 60% | 3163 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,492 psi | 65% | 3238 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,631 psi | 84% | 3520 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,018 psi | 72% | 3376 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,606 psi | 60% | 3173 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,110 psi | 85% | 3583 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,669 psi | 72% | 3320 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,192 psi | 73% | 3419 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,455 psi | 78% | 3468 fps | 96.6% |
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 72 powders for .22-250 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 52gr | Berger Varmint. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,727 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,349 fps to 3,727 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 72 of the 72 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 52.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Somchem S365 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, ReloadSwiss RS 52, Alliant Reloder-17 rank at the top here: for .22-250 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 52gr | Berger 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.