Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .220 Swift with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 69 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Winchester 748 and Hodgdon H322.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,390 psi | 89% | 3845 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,085 psi | 88% | 3921 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,099 psi | 87% | 3924 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,839 psi | 88% | 3960 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3993 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,763 psi | 81% | 3911 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,968 psi | 85% | 3816 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,374 psi | 86% | 3835 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 3980 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 3868 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,562 psi | 84% | 3937 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 3940 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,217 psi | 90% | 4029 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 4072 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,995 psi | 82% | 3907 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,868 psi | 88% | 3950 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 3888 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,579 psi | 89% | 3848 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,039 psi | 82% | 3914 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,374 psi | 86% | 3875 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,823 psi | 85% | 3953 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,810 psi | 88% | 3983 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,217 psi | 90% | 3999 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 3881 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,085 psi | 88% | 3996 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 4009 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,185 psi | 53% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 3937 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 4016 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 3927 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 3940 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 3940 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 3921 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,127 psi | 85% | 3950 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3816 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,303 psi | 89% | 3904 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 3940 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 3921 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,405 psi | 90% | 3980 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,156 psi | 85% | 3934 fps | 99% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 3990 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,318 psi | 90% | 3940 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,315 psi | 53% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,780 psi | 86% | 3934 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,588 psi | 78% | 3947 fps | 97.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,417 psi | 86% | 3917 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 3904 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 3940 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,127 psi | 85% | 3950 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 3940 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 3894 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 3619 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,258 psi | 85% | 3937 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 3980 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 3888 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,822 psi | 83% | 3802 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3983 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 3875 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,362 psi | 90% | 3963 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,316 psi | 85% | 3806 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,434 psi | 89% | 3885 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 3885 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,158 psi | 88% | 3967 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 3914 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,673 psi | 75% | 3750 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 3940 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 3963 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 3990 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,663 psi | 84% | 3934 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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,982 psi | 83% | 3780 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,679 psi | 56% | 3425 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,811 psi | 61% | 3527 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,819 psi | 46% | 3274 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,437 psi | 66% | 3661 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,042 psi | 58% | 3530 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,642 psi | 70% | 3602 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,976 psi | 71% | 3612 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,271 psi | 82% | 3898 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,065 psi | 75% | 3743 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,540 psi | 68% | 3701 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,355 psi | 76% | 3783 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,111 psi | 51% | 3448 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 88% | 51,169 psi | 82% | 3993 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,311 psi | 76% | 3822 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,885 psi | 64% | 3606 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,298 psi | 77% | 3753 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,612 psi | 68% | 3566 fps | 98.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,195 psi | 76% | 3825 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,222 psi | 71% | 3658 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 45,527 psi | 73% | 3783 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 32.7 gr | 80% | 38,682 psi | 62% | 3593 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 63% | 3606 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,138 psi | 77% | 3740 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,619 psi | 83% | 3921 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,850 psi | 80% | 3924 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,265 psi | 39% | 2260 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,835 psi | 80% | 3852 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 3031 | 32.4 gr | 82% | 32,677 psi | 52% | 3465 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,162 psi | 66% | 3609 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,355 psi | 76% | 3783 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 75% | 3780 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,627 psi | 70% | 3681 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,711 psi | 64% | 3625 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,084 psi | 85% | 3763 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,982 psi | 83% | 3829 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,268 psi | 76% | 3789 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,933 psi | 72% | 3711 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,340 psi | 74% | 3757 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,145 psi | 61% | 3563 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,894 psi | 82% | 3911 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,576 psi | 84% | 3862 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,207 psi | 39% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,133 psi | 66% | 3629 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,484 psi | 73% | 3865 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,291 psi | 63% | 3563 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,847 psi | 75% | 3753 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 75% | 3780 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,711 psi | 64% | 3625 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,268 psi | 76% | 3789 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,152 psi | 76% | 3727 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,008 psi | 77% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,236 psi | 69% | 3701 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,625 psi | 65% | 3625 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,840 psi | 61% | 3465 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,085 psi | 56% | 3392 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,237 psi | 73% | 3743 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,708 psi | 56% | 3386 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,359 psi | 84% | 3881 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,094 psi | 76% | 3688 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 61% | 3488 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,214 psi | 53% | 3346 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,878 psi | 48% | 3317 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,071 psi | 58% | 3474 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,569 psi | 70% | 3671 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,703 psi | 76% | 3780 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,376 psi | 60% | 3517 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 37.7 gr | 88% | 43,265 psi | 69% | 3743 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,356 psi | 79% | 3858 fps | 95.2% |
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 69 powders for .220 Swift loaded with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 4,072 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,523 fps to 4,072 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 69 of the 69 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 53–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 45.0 gr projectile in 0.223" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 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, Winchester 748, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for .220 Swift with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus 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.