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Load data for .220 Howell + .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus

Recommended Powder(s): Alliant Reloder-16, Alliant Reloder-26, ReloadSwiss RS 62, ReloadSwiss RS 70, Somchem S365

.220 Howell + .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:
.223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus
Manufacturer SKU:
Merlin-0.223-55
Bullet Weight:
55gr | 3.6g
Bullet Diameter:
0.223" | 5.66mm
Bullet Length:
0.830" | 21.1mm
Caliber:
.220 Howell load data
Case Length (l3):
2.395" | 60.8mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):
3.054" | 77.6mm
Seated Depth:
0.171" | 4.4mm
Shank Seated Depth:
0.053" | 1.4mm
Case Capacity:
62.0 Grains of Water | 4.03 cm³
Primer Size:
Large Rifle (LR)
Max. allowed Pressure:
58015 psi | 4000 bar
LID:
LID_B10741_C118
Last updated:
2025-02-02
Recommended Twist Rate:
1:10 - 1:8

Load data for 122 loads in caliber .220 Howell with .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 61 powders such as Alliant Reloder-16, Alliant Reloder-26, ReloadSwiss RS 62, ReloadSwiss RS 70, Somchem S365. 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".

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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.

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 2209
<<locked>>
93%
51445
89%
**04
95%
[ADI AR 2213]*
<<locked>>
96%
51576
89%
**17
94%
Accurate 2700
<<locked>>
84%
52127
90%
**02
97%
Accurate 3100
<<locked>>
96%
51590
89%
**42
98%
Accurate 4350
<<locked>>
88%
52011
90%
**17
99%
[Accurate MAGPRO]*
<<locked>>
97%
52054
90%
**30
92%
Alliant Reloder-16 👍
<<locked>>
90%
52199
90%
**79
100%
Alliant Reloder-17
<<locked>>
85%
51866
89%
**76
100%
Alliant Reloder-19
<<locked>>
93%
51474
89%
**97
96%
Alliant Reloder-22
<<locked>>
96%
51880
89%
**33
96%
Alliant Reloder-23
<<locked>>
97%
49647
86%
**94
100%
Alliant Reloder-25
<<locked>>
97%
42714
74%
**53
97%
Alliant Reloder-26 👍
<<locked>>
94%
51532
89%
**89
99%
Hodgdon H414
<<locked>>
84%
51822
89%
**30
97%
Hodgdon H4350
<<locked>>
91%
51576
89%
**61
97%
[Hodgdon H4831]*
<<locked>>
97%
48892
84%
**12
92%
[Hodgdon H4831 SC]*
<<locked>>
95%
52040
90%
**78
93%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V
<<locked>>
91%
52185
90%
**84
100%
Hodgdon LVR
<<locked>>
86%
51938
90%
**10
99%
Hodgdon Superperformance
<<locked>>
86%
52025
90%
**30
97%
Hodgdon TrailBoss
<<locked>>
96%
34185
59%
**79
100%
IMR 4064
<<locked>>
83%
51706
89%
**68
100%
IMR 4166 Enduron
<<locked>>
84%
51634
89%
**55
97%
IMR 4350
<<locked>>
89%
51605
89%
**61
97%
IMR 4451 Enduron
<<locked>>
85%
51895
89%
**71
97%
IMR 4831
<<locked>>
93%
52156
90%
**04
99%
[IMR 4955 Enduron]*
<<locked>>
95%
51793
89%
**35
94%
[IMR 7828 SSC]*
<<locked>>
95%
52156
90%
**47
94%
Lovex S065
<<locked>>
87%
51532
89%
**51
98%
Lovex S070
<<locked>>
88%
51343
88%
**65
97%
Lovex S071
<<locked>>
97%
43323
75%
**74
96%
Norma 204
<<locked>>
89%
51750
89%
**01
95%
Norma MRP
<<locked>>
95%
52069
90%
**83
97%
Norma URP
<<locked>>
88%
51213
88%
**01
99%
Ramshot Hunter
<<locked>>
89%
51982
90%
**27
98%
Ramshot Magnum
<<locked>>
97%
52156
90%
**07
97%
ReloadSwiss RS 14
<<locked>>
97%
35070
60%
**38
100%
ReloadSwiss RS 60
<<locked>>
86%
51953
90%
**06
100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62 👍
<<locked>>
88%
51837
89%
**27
99%
ReloadSwiss RS 70 👍
<<locked>>
88%
51808
89%
**66
99%
[ReloadSwiss RS 76]*
<<locked>>
97%
41945
72%
**50
94%
Rottweil R 903
<<locked>>
84%
51909
89%
**78
100%
[Rottweil R 904]*
<<locked>>
92%
51779
89%
**58
94%
Rottweil R 905
<<locked>>
94%
51822
89%
**14
96%
Rottweil R 907
<<locked>>
86%
52112
90%
**74
97%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000
<<locked>>
87%
51750
89%
**02
97%
Shooters World Long Rifle
<<locked>>
87%
51532
89%
**51
98%
Somchem S355
<<locked>>
84%
52025
90%
**88
100%
[Somchem S361]*
<<locked>>
91%
51764
89%
**89
93%
Somchem S365 👍
<<locked>>
91%
51488
89%
**30
100%
Somchem S385
<<locked>>
93%
51488
89%
**58
97%
Vihtavuori N135
<<locked>>
85%
51300
88%
**12
100%
Vihtavuori N150
<<locked>>
89%
52083
90%
**35
100%
Vihtavuori N160
<<locked>>
86%
51227
88%
**68
99%
Vihtavuori N165
<<locked>>
97%
48269
83%
**63
95%
Vihtavuori N550
<<locked>>
86%
52025
90%
**24
99%
Vihtavuori N555
<<locked>>
95%
51198
88%
**17
100%
[Vihtavuori N560]*
<<locked>>
96%
51837
89%
**50
94%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL
<<locked>>
87%
51663
89%
**25
100%
Winchester 760
<<locked>>
84%
51822
89%
**30
97%
Winchester StaBALL HD
<<locked>>
97%
44933
77%
**27
100%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Powder
Charge
FR
MaxP
%
V(0)
z
[ADI AR 2209]*
<<locked>>
85%
38899
67%
**05
90%
[ADI AR 2213]*
<<locked>>
91%
43033
74%
**17
90%
Accurate 2700
<<locked>>
81%
47529
82%
**14
95%
[Accurate 3100]*
<<locked>>
83%
30821
53%
**43
90%
Accurate 4350
<<locked>>
81%
39711
68%
**38
96%
[Accurate MAGPRO]*
<<locked>>
94%
47007
81%
**22
90%
Alliant Reloder-16
<<locked>>
81%
38682
67%
**58
96%
Alliant Reloder-17
<<locked>>
81%
45063
78%
**32
99%
[Alliant Reloder-19]*
<<locked>>
85%
38522
66%
**05
91%
[Alliant Reloder-22]*
<<locked>>
88%
37536
65%
**99
90%
[Alliant Reloder-23]*
<<locked>>
81%
28137
49%
**23
93%
[Alliant Reloder-25]*
<<locked>>
88%
31314
54%
**09
90%
[Alliant Reloder-26]*
<<locked>>
81%
30618
53%
**28
91%
Hodgdon H414
<<locked>>
81%
46093
79%
**99
96%
[Hodgdon H4350]*
<<locked>>
81%
37376
64%
**20
91%
[Hodgdon H4831]*
<<locked>>
93%
43482
75%
**94
90%
[Hodgdon H4831 SC]*
<<locked>>
90%
43482
75%
**94
90%
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V
<<locked>>
81%
36056
62%
**30
97%
Hodgdon LVR
<<locked>>
81%
42583
73%
**14
97%
[Hodgdon Superperformance]*
<<locked>>
81%
41727
72%
**14
94%
Hodgdon TrailBoss
<<locked>>
81%
27441
47%
**01
100%
IMR 4064
<<locked>>
81%
47732
82%
**89
99%
IMR 4166 Enduron
<<locked>>
81%
47050
81%
**53
96%
[IMR 4350]*
<<locked>>
81%
39494
68%
**82
93%
IMR 4451 Enduron
<<locked>>
81%
45469
78%
**27
95%
[IMR 4831]*
<<locked>>
81%
34432
59%
**81
94%
[IMR 4955 Enduron]*
<<locked>>
90%
42917
74%
**45
90%
[IMR 7828 SSC]*
<<locked>>
90%
42772
74%
**30
90%
Lovex S065
<<locked>>
81%
42554
73%
**64
96%
[Lovex S070]*
<<locked>>
81%
40799
70%
**32
94%
[Lovex S071]*
<<locked>>
88%
31082
54%
**40
90%
[Norma 204]*
<<locked>>
81%
39247
68%
**12
91%
[Norma MRP]*
<<locked>>
84%
34809
60%
**46
90%
Norma URP
<<locked>>
81%
39537
68%
**51
96%
[Ramshot Hunter]*
<<locked>>
81%
38754
67%
**12
94%
[Ramshot Magnum]*
<<locked>>
88%
35824
62%
**14
90%
ReloadSwiss RS 14
<<locked>>
81%
27514
47%
**41
100%
ReloadSwiss RS 60
<<locked>>
81%
43366
75%
**12
100%
ReloadSwiss RS 62
<<locked>>
81%
39958
69%
**55
96%
ReloadSwiss RS 70
<<locked>>
81%
39175
68%
**68
95%
[ReloadSwiss RS 76]*
<<locked>>
93%
36405
63%
**76
90%
Rottweil R 903
<<locked>>
81%
46992
81%
**86
100%
[Rottweil R 904]*
<<locked>>
85%
41017
71%
**19
90%
[Rottweil R 905]*
<<locked>>
85%
37579
65%
**79
90%
[Rottweil R 907]*
<<locked>>
81%
43787
75%
**87
94%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000
<<locked>>
81%
41930
72%
**96
95%
Shooters World Long Rifle
<<locked>>
81%
42554
73%
**64
96%
Somchem S355
<<locked>>
81%
47369
82%
**92
100%
[Somchem S361]*
<<locked>>
86%
43033
74%
**19
90%
Somchem S365
<<locked>>
81%
35984
62%
**89
98%
[Somchem S385]*
<<locked>>
82%
34838
60%
**61
90%
Vihtavuori N135
<<locked>>
81%
45397
78%
**01
100%
Vihtavuori N150
<<locked>>
81%
40321
69%
**05
99%
Vihtavuori N160
<<locked>>
81%
42917
74%
**91
97%
[Vihtavuori N165]*
<<locked>>
88%
35824
62%
**77
90%
Vihtavuori N550
<<locked>>
81%
43772
75%
**43
97%
[Vihtavuori N555]*
<<locked>>
81%
31256
54%
**12
93%
[Vihtavuori N560]*
<<locked>>
91%
43294
75%
**56
90%
Winchester 6.5 StaBALL
<<locked>>
81%
40973
71%
**19
99%
Winchester 760
<<locked>>
81%
46093
79%
**99
96%
[Winchester StaBALL HD]*
<<locked>>
82%
25889
45%
**67
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.

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