Load data for .22 ARC + .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus

Recommended Powder(s): Accurate 2015, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, IMR 4198, Norma 200

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:	.223 \| 45gr \| Merlin Virtus
Manufacturer SKU:	Merlin-0.223-45
Bullet Weight:	45gr \| 2.9g
Bullet Diameter:	0.223" \| 5.66mm
Bullet Length:	0.700" \| 17.8mm
Caliber:	.22 ARC load data
Case Length (l3):	1.525" \| 38.7mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):	2.226" \| 56.5mm
Seated Depth:	-0.001" \| -0.0mm
Shank Seated Depth:	-0.001" \| -0.0mm
Case Capacity:	34.0 Grains of Water \| 2.21 cm³
Primer Size:	Small Rifle (SR)
Max. allowed Pressure:	52069 psi \| 3590 bar
LID:	LID_B10740_C100
Last updated:	2025-01-01
Recommended Twist Rate:	1:12 - 1:10

Load data for 90 loads in caliber .22 ARC with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 45 powders such as Accurate 2015, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, IMR 4198, Norma 200. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.

Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge unless there are reasons. Since xxlreloading.com has no control over the equipment and components used by the customer and the data used in connection with the website, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected. Also see our Terms of Service.

Questions regarding the load data: Please read the information in the next tab "Explanations".
A load must fulfill certain criteria to be listed in the default view below - see "powder criteria to fulfill to be listed".

Our load data might deviate from other sources - see the "most common reasons for deviations".

All loads are based on the bullet and case dimensions shown under "Load Specifications" - see "reloading suggestions" if you deviate.

You can set your specifications in the "Personalized Load Calculator".

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Use the Personalized Load Calculator to customize loads to your own specific requirements. Find more details in the help section.

Our default view only displays powders/loads that fulfill certain criteria: Max pressure of a load <=90% of Max. Standardized Pressure. Fill Rate (Min FR): >80% and <100% for rife loads, >60% and <100% for pistol loads. Min. Propellant Combustion (Min z): >90% for rifle loads , >80% for pistol/revolver loads. Relax these criteria at your own risk to potentially get more powders shown in the load tables.
Case Length (Inch)
Case Length (mm)
CaseCapacity (GoW)
Min z (%)
Min FR (%)
Max FR*
Barrel Length (Inch)
Barrel Length (cm)
Safety Buffer (%)
.

Click on the desired row in the tables below to add a specific load / powder to your Diary and manage there.

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	86%	45861	88%	**20	100%
ADI AR 2219	<<locked>>	90%	46398	89%	**70	97%
Accurate 2015 👍	<<locked>>	95%	46224	89%	**24	99%
[Accurate 2230]*	<<locked>>	93%	46760	90%	**88	92%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	93%	46151	89%	**14	94%
Accurate 2495	<<locked>>	96%	38725	74%	**45	97%
[Accurate 2520]*	<<locked>>	96%	42264	81%	**81	94%
Alliant AR-Comp 👍	<<locked>>	96%	42264	81%	**40	100%
Alliant Reloder-10x 👍	<<locked>>	92%	46470	89%	**63	99%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	85%	45411	87%	**81	99%
Baschieri & Pellagri 106	<<locked>>	89%	46557	89%	**32	98%
[Hodgdon BL-C2]*	<<locked>>	97%	44280	85%	**20	92%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	95%	46746	90%	**74	94%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	86%	46717	90%	**32	93%
Hodgdon H322	<<locked>>	95%	46398	89%	**70	97%
Hodgdon H335	<<locked>>	90%	46731	90%	**63	96%
Hodgdon H4198	<<locked>>	86%	45440	87%	**38	96%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	95%	29254	56%	**60	100%
IMR 3031	<<locked>>	97%	36883	71%	**02	95%
IMR 4198 👍	<<locked>>	91%	46369	89%	**17	100%
[IMR 8208 XBR]*	<<locked>>	97%	46528	89%	**14	93%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	92%	46731	90%	**07	94%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	93%	46151	89%	**14	94%
[Lovex D073.6]*	<<locked>>	96%	39450	76%	**12	93%
Norma 200 👍	<<locked>>	88%	45919	88%	**37	100%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	96%	40770	78%	**22	94%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	96%	29530	57%	**20	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 40	<<locked>>	93%	46151	89%	**30	95%
Rottweil R 901	<<locked>>	96%	44715	86%	**94	95%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	85%	45687	88%	**41	100%
SNPE Vectan SP 10	<<locked>>	89%	46485	89%	**63	96%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000	<<locked>>	97%	45484	87%	**25	96%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000]*	<<locked>>	97%	36158	69%	**12	94%
[Shooters World Match Rifle]*	<<locked>>	96%	39450	76%	**12	93%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	90%	45992	88%	**48	92%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	94%	45600	88%	**24	93%
Somchem S335	<<locked>>	96%	42931	82%	**02	96%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	88%	45556	88%	**58	100%
Vihtavuori N130	<<locked>>	94%	45339	87%	**68	99%
Vihtavuori N133	<<locked>>	96%	40161	77%	**46	97%
[Vihtavuori N135]*	<<locked>>	96%	29602	57%	**10	92%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	97%	39088	75%	**46	94%
[Vihtavuori N530]*	<<locked>>	94%	45455	87%	**17	93%
[Vihtavuori N540]*	<<locked>>	96%	38305	74%	**53	93%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	95%	45818	88%	**70	94%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	81%	38392	74%	**60	100%
[ADI AR 2219]*	<<locked>>	81%	34316	66%	**58	93%
[Accurate 2015]*	<<locked>>	81%	28398	55%	**51	93%
[Accurate 2230]*	<<locked>>	90%	42337	81%	**96	91%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	86%	36216	70%	**64	90%
[Accurate 2495]*	<<locked>>	84%	24758	48%	**95	90%
[Accurate 2520]*	<<locked>>	90%	33170	64%	**45	90%
[Alliant AR-Comp]*	<<locked>>	81%	25179	48%	**99	93%
Alliant Reloder-10x	<<locked>>	81%	31734	61%	**79	96%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	81%	39929	77%	**40	98%
[Baschieri & Pellagri 106]*	<<locked>>	81%	35288	68%	**66	94%
[Hodgdon BL-C2]*	<<locked>>	94%	40190	77%	**19	90%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	88%	37478	72%	**45	90%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	81%	39929	77%	**74	90%
[Hodgdon H322]*	<<locked>>	82%	29820	57%	**10	90%
[Hodgdon H335]*	<<locked>>	81%	33692	65%	**28	91%
[Hodgdon H4198]*	<<locked>>	81%	38580	74%	**74	94%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	80%	23148	44%	**83	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	88%	28166	54%	**07	90%
IMR 4198	<<locked>>	81%	34272	66%	**22	97%
[IMR 8208 XBR]*	<<locked>>	92%	39624	76%	**56	90%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	85%	36898	71%	**68	90%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	87%	36216	70%	**64	90%
[Lovex D073.6]*	<<locked>>	92%	33170	64%	**45	90%
Norma 200	<<locked>>	81%	36201	70%	**91	98%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	89%	32155	62%	**79	90%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	82%	23467	45%	**49	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	85%	35563	68%	**58	91%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	86%	32271	62%	**53	90%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	81%	41350	79%	**69	100%
[SNPE Vectan SP 10]*	<<locked>>	81%	34664	67%	**55	92%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	86%	32271	62%	**87	90%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000]*	<<locked>>	91%	29660	57%	**15	91%
[Shooters World Match Rifle]*	<<locked>>	92%	33170	64%	**45	90%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	87%	41727	80%	**50	90%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	89%	38580	74%	**53	90%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	84%	28863	55%	**09	90%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	81%	35723	69%	**45	100%
Vihtavuori N130	<<locked>>	81%	30269	58%	**68	95%
[Vihtavuori N133]*	<<locked>>	82%	25947	50%	**13	90%
[Vihtavuori N135]*	<<locked>>	93%	26876	52%	**12	90%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	90%	30966	59%	**10	90%
[Vihtavuori N530]*	<<locked>>	91%	39668	76%	**79	91%
[Vihtavuori N540]*	<<locked>>	92%	32547	63%	**89	91%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	89%	37550	72%	**56	90%

Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Any powder missing? Then click here.

FR ... fill rate of the cartridge in percent

MaxP ... max. pressure of load in psi or bar

% ... max. pressure of load in percent of the maximum allowed pressure for this caliber

V(0) ... muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s)

z ... powder burnt in percent

[...] *... not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.

[...] ²... fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.

[...] ᴾ... possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.

👍 ... recommended powder/load for this caliber and bullet combination based on its ballistic performance.

<<locked>>... you need to buy an access license to unlock the data