Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22-250 Ackley Improved with .224 | 53gr | Barnes TSX BT bullet and 73 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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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,864 psi | 86% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,837 psi | 89% | 3527 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,836 psi | 88% | 3520 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,532 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,792 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,243 psi | 90% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,431 psi | 90% | 3589 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,299 psi | 87% | 3514 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,677 psi | 89% | 3543 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,242 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,272 psi | 90% | 3675 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,025 psi | 90% | 3688 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,559 psi | 85% | 3540 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,429 psi | 85% | 3481 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,256 psi | 87% | 3560 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,604 psi | 87% | 3648 fps | 97.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,257 psi | 90% | 3438 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,705 psi | 86% | 3547 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,691 psi | 87% | 3481 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,676 psi | 87% | 3563 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,025 psi | 90% | 3665 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,358 psi | 89% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,545 psi | 85% | 3537 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,532 psi | 89% | 3622 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,200 psi | 59% | 2313 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,864 psi | 86% | 3520 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,140 psi | 86% | 3583 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,054 psi | 90% | 3547 fps | 97% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,922 psi | 86% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,488 psi | 89% | 3602 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,677 psi | 89% | 3543 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,938 psi | 90% | 3530 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,532 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,763 psi | 86% | 3458 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,460 psi | 90% | 3566 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,111 psi | 88% | 3530 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,445 psi | 89% | 3550 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,429 psi | 85% | 3540 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,792 psi | 86% | 3560 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,430 psi | 89% | 3563 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,835 psi | 86% | 3474 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,563 psi | 60% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,459 psi | 89% | 3540 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,748 psi | 86% | 3622 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,169 psi | 87% | 3665 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,373 psi | 90% | 3543 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,634 psi | 89% | 3530 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,545 psi | 85% | 3533 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,532 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,460 psi | 90% | 3566 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,300 psi | 88% | 3494 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,735 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,995 psi | 86% | 3510 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,082 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,995 psi | 86% | 3435 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,922 psi | 86% | 3425 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,647 psi | 86% | 3514 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,330 psi | 90% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,937 psi | 86% | 3501 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,401 psi | 87% | 3540 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,452 psi | 71% | 3428 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,953 psi | 90% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,344 psi | 90% | 3481 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,951 psi | 86% | 3514 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,314 psi | 88% | 3514 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,428 psi | 84% | 3465 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,054 psi | 90% | 3566 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,372 psi | 89% | 3556 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,155 psi | 88% | 3533 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,025 psi | 90% | 3615 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,937 psi | 88% | 3501 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,054 psi | 90% | 3602 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,475 psi | 90% | 3586 fps | 98.2% |
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% | 41,133 psi | 71% | 3281 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,034 psi | 78% | 3389 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,765 psi | 58% | 3136 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,943 psi | 67% | 3287 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,865 psi | 55% | 3097 fps | 96% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,342 psi | 85% | 3412 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,192 psi | 74% | 3386 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,137 psi | 81% | 3445 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,900 psi | 69% | 3278 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 67% | 3314 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,585 psi | 79% | 3527 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,689 psi | 84% | 3612 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,640 psi | 70% | 3333 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,630 psi | 80% | 3425 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,050 psi | 81% | 3488 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 39.6 gr | 94% | 43,976 psi | 76% | 3491 fps | 96% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,820 psi | 84% | 3376 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,495 psi | 70% | 3340 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 72% | 3287 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 66% | 3278 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,165 psi | 78% | 3514 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,221 psi | 73% | 3366 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,785 psi | 70% | 3330 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,581 psi | 68% | 3343 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,295 psi | 44% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,278 psi | 71% | 3327 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 58% | 3192 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,021 psi | 79% | 3419 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,036 psi | 81% | 3399 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,264 psi | 73% | 3392 fps | 95% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,900 psi | 69% | 3278 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,802 psi | 77% | 3383 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,361 psi | 63% | 3222 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,801 psi | 76% | 3323 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,130 psi | 66% | 3238 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,682 psi | 68% | 3268 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,217 psi | 64% | 3225 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,337 psi | 75% | 3406 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,337 psi | 75% | 3415 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,875 psi | 77% | 3422 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,627 psi | 75% | 3337 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,425 psi | 44% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,759 psi | 77% | 3399 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 36.5 gr | 88% | 46,412 psi | 80% | 3550 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 36.2 gr | 86% | 35,636 psi | 61% | 3274 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 70% | 3287 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,103 psi | 69% | 3271 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,335 psi | 70% | 3323 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,361 psi | 63% | 3222 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,130 psi | 66% | 3238 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,645 psi | 82% | 3419 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,005 psi | 78% | 3458 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,688 psi | 81% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,599 psi | 77% | 3406 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 67% | 3189 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,879 psi | 55% | 3002 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,917 psi | 74% | 3366 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 66% | 3182 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,511 psi | 75% | 3360 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,350 psi | 71% | 3337 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,754 psi | 67% | 3356 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 74% | 3287 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,245 psi | 63% | 3136 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,257 psi | 57% | 3136 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 60% | 3133 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,275 psi | 64% | 3205 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,254 psi | 83% | 3491 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,974 psi | 72% | 3346 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,577 psi | 60% | 3146 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,718 psi | 84% | 3547 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,379 psi | 71% | 3287 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,872 psi | 72% | 3383 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,918 psi | 77% | 3428 fps | 96.5% |
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 | 53gr | Barnes TSX BT. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,688 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,313 fps to 3,688 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 53.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.5 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 | 53gr | Barnes TSX BT 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.