Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 ARC with .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 43 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Alliant AR-Comp and Lovex D073.6.
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>> | 92% | 45,078 psi | 87% | 3209 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,412 psi | 89% | 3251 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,035 psi | 89% | 3291 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,007 psi | 90% | 3301 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,670 psi | 82% | 3241 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,382 psi | 85% | 3110 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,744 psi | 86% | 3120 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,614 psi | 86% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,542 psi | 88% | 3271 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,121 psi | 85% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,426 psi | 87% | 3241 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,006 psi | 88% | 3189 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,977 psi | 88% | 3150 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,876 psi | 90% | 3212 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,106 psi | 85% | 3241 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,469 psi | 87% | 3261 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,340 psi | 89% | 3176 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,793 psi | 63% | 2100 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,034 psi | 87% | 3327 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,833 psi | 90% | 3228 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,789 psi | 90% | 3271 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,369 psi | 89% | 3245 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,454 psi | 85% | 3261 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,223 psi | 87% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,905 psi | 88% | 3271 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,779 psi | 63% | 2149 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,164 psi | 85% | 3209 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,789 psi | 90% | 3255 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,789 psi | 90% | 3271 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,454 psi | 85% | 3261 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,485 psi | 89% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,166 psi | 89% | 3271 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,890 psi | 88% | 3245 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,861 psi | 88% | 3169 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,628 psi | 86% | 3153 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,527 psi | 86% | 3163 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,715 psi | 86% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,977 psi | 88% | 3182 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,266 psi | 87% | 3176 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,543 psi | 90% | 3291 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,122 psi | 89% | 3241 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,904 psi | 86% | 3228 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,730 psi | 88% | 3301 fps | 96.1% |
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% | 30,458 psi | 59% | 2851 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,652 psi | 72% | 3058 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,427 psi | 55% | 2858 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,567 psi | 78% | 3163 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,809 psi | 67% | 3051 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 76% | 3002 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 76% | 3009 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,698 psi | 80% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 72% | 3081 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 23.1 gr | 80% | 28,021 psi | 54% | 2864 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 68% | 3005 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,105 psi | 83% | 3130 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,913 psi | 73% | 2976 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,498 psi | 86% | 3163 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,692 psi | 65% | 2982 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 70% | 3054 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,395 psi | 83% | 3110 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,830 psi | 46% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 24.8 gr | 86% | 32,489 psi | 62% | 3009 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,637 psi | 70% | 3002 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 78% | 3130 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,424 psi | 84% | 3182 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | 28.3 gr | 92% | 38,783 psi | 75% | 3133 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,074 psi | 77% | 3107 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,666 psi | 72% | 3084 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,960 psi | 46% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,379 psi | 80% | 3146 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,073 psi | 75% | 3081 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 78% | 3130 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,783 psi | 75% | 3133 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 85% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,623 psi | 72% | 3074 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,737 psi | 69% | 3012 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,942 psi | 73% | 2992 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,882 psi | 67% | 2933 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,867 psi | 67% | 2936 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,800 psi | 80% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,808 psi | 65% | 2907 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 57% | 2785 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,747 psi | 57% | 2887 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,839 psi | 69% | 3009 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,956 psi | 71% | 3048 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,409 psi | 82% | 3228 fps | 95.1% |
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 43 powders for .22 ARC loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,327 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,100 fps to 3,327 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (359 MPa), the top charges use 63–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, 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. IMR 3031, Alliant AR-Comp, Lovex D073.6 rank at the top here: for .22 ARC with the .224 | 55gr | 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.