Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 Creedmoor with .224 | 64gr | Berger Varmint bullet and 94 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 70, Alliant Reloder-17 and ReloadSwiss RS 60.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
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>> | 82% | 55,811 psi | 86% | 3327 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,172 psi | 85% | 3346 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,840 psi | 87% | 3422 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,638 psi | 89% | 3396 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 3100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 72% | 3268 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,463 psi | 85% | 3402 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,318 psi | 87% | 3491 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,187 psi | 85% | 3435 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,391 psi | 87% | 3432 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,537 psi | 89% | 3438 fps | 100% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,610 psi | 90% | 3412 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,332 psi | 85% | 3563 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,695 psi | 87% | 3458 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,305 psi | 88% | 3488 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,782 psi | 87% | 3556 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,479 psi | 90% | 3596 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,976 psi | 68% | 3294 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-26ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,140 psi | 77% | 3497 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,013 psi | 85% | 3438 fps | 99.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,740 psi | 89% | 3478 fps | 100% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,450 psi | 88% | 3438 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,245 psi | 85% | 3360 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,377 psi | 88% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,291 psi | 90% | 3484 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,143 psi | 85% | 3478 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 58,711 psi | 90% | 3501 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,825 psi | 86% | 3445 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,072 psi | 88% | 3468 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,782 psi | 86% | 3478 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,927 psi | 86% | 3517 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,824 psi | 55% | 2205 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,739 psi | 87% | 3445 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,883 psi | 86% | 3435 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,666 psi | 86% | 3412 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,187 psi | 85% | 3379 fps | 97% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,015 psi | 89% | 3461 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,767 psi | 86% | 3415 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,666 psi | 87% | 3481 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,740 psi | 90% | 3520 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,537 psi | 89% | 3438 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,216 psi | 85% | 3402 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,624 psi | 89% | 3406 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 3412 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,784 psi | 90% | 3465 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,594 psi | 87% | 3445 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 3428 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,812 psi | 89% | 3428 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,521 psi | 87% | 3468 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 58,711 psi | 90% | 3537 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,217 psi | 88% | 3488 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,609 psi | 89% | 3524 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,885 psi | 89% | 3448 fps | 98.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,030 psi | 89% | 3478 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 82% | 58,494 psi | 90% | 3435 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,042 psi | 55% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 90% | 58,682 psi | 90% | 3465 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,899 psi | 89% | 3560 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 92% | 58,204 psi | 90% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,970 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,230 psi | 85% | 3537 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,059 psi | 89% | 3419 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,725 psi | 89% | 3425 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,522 psi | 88% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,450 psi | 88% | 3438 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 58,784 psi | 90% | 3465 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,216 psi | 85% | 3402 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 3412 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,594 psi | 87% | 3445 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,811 psi | 86% | 3471 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,550 psi | 87% | 3422 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,159 psi | 88% | 3451 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 58,595 psi | 90% | 3366 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,753 psi | 86% | 3304 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,724 psi | 86% | 3350 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,899 psi | 89% | 3353 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,057 psi | 86% | 3412 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,783 psi | 89% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,246 psi | 88% | 3537 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S385ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,084 psi | 82% | 3396 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,986 psi | 89% | 3320 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,201 psi | 85% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,783 psi | 89% | 3389 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 58,523 psi | 90% | 3402 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,521 psi | 85% | 3376 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,464 psi | 88% | 3471 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,131 psi | 89% | 3438 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,884 psi | 88% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,521 psi | 87% | 3471 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,950 psi | 75% | 3392 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,566 psi | 89% | 3435 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 84% | 58,392 psi | 90% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,143 psi | 85% | 3478 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,552 psi | 61% | 3301 fps | 99% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,580 psi | 89% | 3468 fps | 100% |
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% | 52,272 psi | 80% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,324 psi | 70% | 3176 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,823 psi | 81% | 3353 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2700 | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,328 psi | 77% | 3261 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,598 psi | 67% | 3199 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,815 psi | 66% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,479 psi | 61% | 3143 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,515 psi | 75% | 3304 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,046 psi | 63% | 3117 fps | 97% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,618 psi | 78% | 3314 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,430 psi | 79% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,556 psi | 69% | 3333 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,147 psi | 63% | 3143 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 68% | 3222 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,740 psi | 60% | 3153 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 37.7 gr | 80% | 35,694 psi | 55% | 3094 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,982 psi | 52% | 3028 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,089 psi | 62% | 3255 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,095 psi | 74% | 3301 fps | 98.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,176 psi | 63% | 3153 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,444 psi | 78% | 3304 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,866 psi | 80% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,053 psi | 77% | 3333 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,872 psi | 64% | 3153 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,921 psi | 74% | 3337 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,027 psi | 85% | 3432 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,037 psi | 75% | 3317 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,359 psi | 51% | 2956 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 70% | 3278 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,211 psi | 74% | 3360 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,484 psi | 41% | 1972 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,036 psi | 72% | 3261 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,052 psi | 75% | 3317 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,120 psi | 66% | 3159 fps | 97.7% |
| IMR 4166 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,588 psi | 75% | 3248 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4350 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,024 psi | 78% | 3333 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,095 psi | 76% | 3284 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,811 psi | 58% | 3081 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,266 psi | 70% | 3258 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,618 psi | 78% | 3314 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,312 psi | 74% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,950 psi | 74% | 3228 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 67% | 3166 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,989 psi | 66% | 3150 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,644 psi | 72% | 3248 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,427 psi | 73% | 3248 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,877 psi | 74% | 3258 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 67% | 3209 fps | 98.2% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,131 psi | 60% | 3133 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,352 psi | 67% | 3215 fps | 98% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,947 psi | 68% | 3251 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,720 psi | 78% | 3317 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,343 psi | 77% | 3337 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,592 psi | 84% | 3366 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,050 psi | 42% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 50 | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,078 psi | 69% | 3199 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,833 psi | 72% | 3346 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 37.7 gr | 80% | 37,985 psi | 58% | 3176 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,160 psi | 60% | 3153 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | 42.1 gr | 88% | 41,466 psi | 64% | 3232 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,459 psi | 79% | 3304 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,121 psi | 69% | 3189 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,667 psi | 59% | 3081 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 907 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,444 psi | 78% | 3304 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,989 psi | 66% | 3150 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,312 psi | 74% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 67% | 3166 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,644 psi | 72% | 3248 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,537 psi | 61% | 3133 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,255 psi | 76% | 3287 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,833 psi | 72% | 3258 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,356 psi | 74% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 62% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,791 psi | 75% | 3219 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,196 psi | 74% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,921 psi | 75% | 3281 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,233 psi | 60% | 3087 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,821 psi | 47% | 2940 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S385 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,240 psi | 76% | 3317 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,375 psi | 84% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,776 psi | 75% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,715 psi | 69% | 3169 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,411 psi | 70% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 58% | 3012 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,377 psi | 59% | 3077 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,923 psi | 78% | 3314 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,019 psi | 68% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,422 psi | 62% | 3140 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,362 psi | 57% | 3127 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,185 psi | 51% | 2910 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,213 psi | 79% | 3366 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,254 psi | 74% | 3340 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,227 psi | 50% | 3051 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,688 psi | 72% | 3264 fps | 99.2% |
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 94 powders for .22 Creedmoor loaded with the .224 | 64gr | Berger Varmint. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,602 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,205 fps to 3,602 fps. Accurate 3100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 94 of the 94 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (448 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 64.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 3100, Alliant Reloder-23, Alliant Reloder-26 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 70, Alliant Reloder-17, ReloadSwiss RS 60 rank at the top here: for .22 Creedmoor with the .224 | 64gr | 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.