Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22-250 Ackley Improved with .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 77 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17 and SNPE Vectan SP 11.
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>> | 84% | 51,953 psi | 90% | 3327 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,604 psi | 87% | 3340 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,705 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,647 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,343 psi | 87% | 3432 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,155 psi | 88% | 3406 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,284 psi | 85% | 3343 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,372 psi | 87% | 3360 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,531 psi | 87% | 3363 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,749 psi | 88% | 3517 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,286 psi | 90% | 3432 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,617 psi | 86% | 3389 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,851 psi | 89% | 3504 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,530 psi | 85% | 3481 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,053 psi | 88% | 3409 fps | 97.6% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,342 psi | 85% | 3383 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,286 psi | 90% | 3353 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,748 psi | 86% | 3386 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,894 psi | 88% | 3481 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,053 psi | 86% | 3363 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,488 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,677 psi | 89% | 3422 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,819 psi | 82% | 3356 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,140 psi | 88% | 3455 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,925 psi | 60% | 2208 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,141 psi | 90% | 3412 fps | 99% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,792 psi | 86% | 3399 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,024 psi | 88% | 3373 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,933 psi | 77% | 3301 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,879 psi | 88% | 3432 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,372 psi | 87% | 3360 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,705 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,256 psi | 88% | 3337 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,721 psi | 89% | 3392 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,140 psi | 88% | 3366 fps | 96% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,285 psi | 87% | 3356 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,705 psi | 87% | 3369 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,083 psi | 90% | 3438 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,472 psi | 85% | 3419 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,979 psi | 84% | 3389 fps | 98% |
| Ramshot Hunterᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,040 psi | 90% | 3468 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,836 psi | 88% | 3356 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,328 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,532 psi | 89% | 3356 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,404 psi | 61% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,284 psi | 85% | 3451 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,124 psi | 85% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,053 psi | 86% | 3451 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,372 psi | 87% | 3471 fps | 96.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 51,126 psi | 88% | 3353 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,778 psi | 88% | 3353 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,182 psi | 85% | 3369 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,140 psi | 88% | 3366 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,705 psi | 87% | 3386 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 90% | 51,721 psi | 89% | 3392 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,807 psi | 88% | 3432 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,936 psi | 84% | 3320 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,908 psi | 86% | 3369 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,619 psi | 89% | 3304 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,706 psi | 89% | 3297 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,706 psi | 89% | 3399 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,285 psi | 88% | 3304 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,069 psi | 90% | 3389 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,806 psi | 86% | 3373 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,543 psi | 82% | 3428 fps | 99.4% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,459 psi | 87% | 3428 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 50,372 psi | 87% | 3264 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,285 psi | 88% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,995 psi | 86% | 3333 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,531 psi | 87% | 3333 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,995 psi | 88% | 3360 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,416 psi | 89% | 3406 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,980 psi | 86% | 3366 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 50,401 psi | 87% | 3356 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,561 psi | 89% | 3455 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,385 psi | 85% | 3337 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 82% | 51,140 psi | 88% | 3422 fps | 99.7% |
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% | 46,035 psi | 79% | 3222 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,653 psi | 67% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,106 psi | 76% | 3255 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 63% | 3077 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,395 psi | 75% | 3287 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,366 psi | 73% | 3212 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 70% | 3150 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,367 psi | 77% | 3235 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,990 psi | 76% | 3245 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,266 psi | 76% | 3366 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,230 psi | 61% | 3041 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,669 psi | 70% | 3189 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,844 psi | 74% | 3297 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 37 gr | 86% | 37,681 psi | 65% | 3186 fps | 95.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,611 psi | 72% | 3202 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 60% | 3038 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,209 psi | 80% | 3235 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,062 psi | 74% | 3245 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,282 psi | 82% | 3406 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,847 psi | 81% | 3297 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,990 psi | 76% | 3248 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,699 psi | 74% | 3228 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,028 psi | 64% | 3104 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,347 psi | 63% | 3114 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,788 psi | 44% | 1975 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,840 psi | 65% | 3087 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 66% | 3153 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,784 psi | 69% | 3123 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,453 psi | 73% | 3245 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,030 psi | 67% | 3159 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,367 psi | 77% | 3235 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,292 psi | 71% | 3189 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 73% | 3150 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,536 psi | 65% | 3077 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,080 psi | 83% | 3304 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,524 psi | 72% | 3166 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 72% | 3176 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,492 psi | 65% | 3107 fps | 95% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,352 psi | 75% | 3284 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,726 psi | 69% | 3179 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,878 psi | 84% | 3402 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,442 psi | 82% | 3287 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,685 psi | 75% | 3245 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,124 psi | 83% | 3291 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,324 psi | 45% | 2031 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 69% | 3238 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 34.4 gr | 80% | 32,648 psi | 56% | 3051 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,424 psi | 75% | 3307 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,862 psi | 81% | 3392 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,049 psi | 78% | 3232 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,349 psi | 68% | 3104 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,391 psi | 64% | 3100 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,080 psi | 83% | 3304 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,292 psi | 71% | 3189 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,536 psi | 65% | 3077 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | 35.5 gr | 84% | 38,653 psi | 67% | 3159 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,513 psi | 78% | 3248 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 71% | 3173 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,786 psi | 74% | 3130 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,404 psi | 61% | 2956 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,182 psi | 83% | 3330 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 73% | 3133 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,409 psi | 73% | 3186 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,100 psi | 62% | 3054 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,953 psi | 59% | 3081 fps | 95.7% |
| Unknown powder | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,253 psi | 81% | 3363 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,253 psi | 81% | 3209 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,161 psi | 69% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,537 psi | 66% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,696 psi | 67% | 3087 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,721 psi | 56% | 2936 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,701 psi | 77% | 3268 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,833 psi | 81% | 3304 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 66% | 3100 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,991 psi | 78% | 3317 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,652 psi | 65% | 3068 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,558 psi | 82% | 3353 fps | 99.4% |
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 77 powders for .22-250 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,517 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,208 fps to 3,517 fps. Alliant Reloder-16 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 77 of the 77 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (400 MPa), the top charges use 60–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:13.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, Alliant Reloder-17, SNPE Vectan SP 11 rank at the top here: for .22-250 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady 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.