Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .221 Rem. Fireball with .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Lead Free bullet and 22 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Lovex S053, Vihtavuori N110 and SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2.
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 No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,727 psi | 90% | 2776 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,727 psi | 90% | 2776 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,698 psi | 90% | 2694 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,698 psi | 90% | 2694 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,809 psi | 75% | 2749 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,809 psi | 75% | 2749 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,843 psi | 88% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,843 psi | 88% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,121 psi | 56% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,121 psi | 56% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,379 psi | 89% | 2769 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,379 psi | 89% | 2769 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,133 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,133 psi | 89% | 2789 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,193 psi | 54% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,193 psi | 54% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,277 psi | 87% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,277 psi | 87% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,336 psi | 89% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,336 psi | 89% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,418 psi | 76% | 2723 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,418 psi | 76% | 2723 fps | 97.4% |
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 No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,895 psi | 73% | 2612 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,895 psi | 73% | 2612 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,547 psi | 70% | 2503 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,547 psi | 70% | 2503 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 32,721 psi | 71% | 2697 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 32,721 psi | 71% | 2697 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 82% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 82% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,536 psi | 40% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,536 psi | 40% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,246 psi | 80% | 2684 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,246 psi | 80% | 2684 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S053 | 11.9 gr | 84% | 27,673 psi | 60% | 2477 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | 11.9 gr | 84% | 27,673 psi | 60% | 2477 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,014 psi | 39% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,014 psi | 39% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 10.3 gr | 80% | 23,076 psi | 50% | 2280 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 10.3 gr | 80% | 23,076 psi | 50% | 2280 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 10.8 gr | 80% | 28,790 psi | 62% | 2493 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 10.8 gr | 80% | 28,790 psi | 62% | 2493 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 29,530 psi | 64% | 2575 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 29,530 psi | 64% | 2575 fps | 95.3% |
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 22 powders for .221 Rem. Fireball loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Lead Free. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,838 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,752 fps to 2,838 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 22 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, ADI AR 2207, 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. Lovex S053, Vihtavuori N110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 rank at the top here: for .221 Rem. Fireball with the .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Lead Free 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.