Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 Picra with .224 | 52gr | Speer Varmint Hollow Point bullet and 53 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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 ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. 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: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,073 psi | 84% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,435 psi | 83% | 1650 fps | 90% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,567 psi | 87% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,116 psi | 82% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,652 psi | 81% | 1637 fps | 91% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,551 psi | 83% | 1611 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,174 psi | 82% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,945 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,856 psi | 86% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,552 psi | 85% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,871 psi | 86% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 84% | 1657 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,393 psi | 87% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,581 psi | 85% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,234 psi | 89% | 1686 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,104 psi | 89% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,943 psi | 86% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,422 psi | 87% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,002 psi | 88% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,989 psi | 90% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,063 psi | 54% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,915 psi | 88% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,435 psi | 83% | 1650 fps | 90% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,016 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,524 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,871 psi | 86% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,437 psi | 89% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,247 psi | 85% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,323 psi | 52% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,102 psi | 84% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,740 psi | 86% | 1670 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,247 psi | 82% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,435 psi | 83% | 1650 fps | 90% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,161 psi | 87% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,595 psi | 83% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,858 psi | 90% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,945 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,447 psi | 74% | 1598 fps | 88.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,466 psi | 89% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,452 psi | 89% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,930 psi | 88% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,611 psi | 88% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,857 psi | 88% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 88% | 1677 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,117 psi | 84% | 1667 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,160 psi | 84% | 1696 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,364 psi | 87% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,827 psi | 86% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,597 psi | 90% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,684 psi | 90% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,798 psi | 86% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,232 psi | 82% | 1473 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,838 psi | 75% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,750 psi | 71% | 1552 fps | 87.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,779 psi | 71% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,821 psi | 69% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,689 psi | 62% | 1463 fps | 85.8% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 49% | 1296 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,895 psi | 71% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,850 psi | 69% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,272 psi | 72% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,578 psi | 77% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,923 psi | 69% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,772 psi | 53% | 1375 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,924 psi | 73% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,642 psi | 53% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,228 psi | 72% | 1549 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,749 psi | 68% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,663 psi | 70% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,895 psi | 73% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 51% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,738 psi | 79% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,383 psi | 59% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.5 gr | 60% | 12,662 psi | 27% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,999 psi | 80% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,591 psi | 72% | 1565 fps | 87.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,312 psi | 63% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,982 psi | 71% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,343 psi | 70% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,605 psi | 72% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,579 psi | 79% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 2.5 gr | 60% | 11,995 psi | 26% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,908 psi | 69% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,647 psi | 66% | 1503 fps | 93.8% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,124 psi | 65% | 1473 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,591 psi | 72% | 1565 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,849 psi | 64% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,040 psi | 73% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,547 psi | 72% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,520 psi | 77% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,067 psi | 67% | 1532 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 57% | 1352 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,026 psi | 73% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,275 psi | 80% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,286 psi | 72% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,836 psi | 69% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 50% | 1329 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,002 psi | 45% | 1302 fps | 91.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,056 psi | 76% | 1624 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,565 psi | 81% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.3 gr | 60% | 19,740 psi | 43% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,478 psi | 81% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,895 psi | 71% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,731 psi | 60% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,850 psi | 66% | 1365 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* 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.
This overview compares 53 powders for .22 Picra loaded with the .224 | 52gr | Speer Varmint Hollow Point. Vihtavuori N110 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,696 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,171 fps to 1,696 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 52–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 52.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .22 Picra with the .224 | 52gr | Speer Varmint Hollow Point they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 9, Accurate TCM, Alliant BLUE DOT burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.