Load data for .221 Rem. Fireball + .224 | 51gr | Peregrine VLR-4

.221 Rem. Fireball cartridge drawing
Peregrine logo

Load Specifications

Bullet Manufacturer:Peregrine
Bullet Weight:51 gr
Bullet Diameter:0.224"
Bullet Length:<<locked>>
Case Length (l3):1.397"
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):<<locked>>
Case Capacity:22 Grains of Water
Primer Size:Small Rifle (SR)
Barrel Length:24"
Max. allowed Pressure:46,412 psi
Recommended Twist Rate:1:9.0

Load data in caliber .221 Rem. Fireball with .224 | 51gr | Peregrine VLR-4 bullet and 12 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 Vihtavuori N120.

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"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate No. 11 FS<<locked>>82%39,146 psi84%2720 fps97.9%
ADI AR 2205<<locked>>84%39,769 psi86%2651 fps99.2%
ADI AR 2207ᴾ<<locked>>100%38,522 psi83%2828 fps97.7%
Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ<<locked>>100%26,905 psi58%1762 fps100%
IMR 4227<<locked>>92%40,190 psi87%2746 fps96.6%
Lovex S053<<locked>>94%40,364 psi87%2766 fps99.4%
ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ<<locked>>100%26,803 psi58%1814 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36<<locked>>94%40,901 psi88%2808 fps96.7%
Shooters World SOCOM<<locked>>86%41,771 psi90%2753 fps95.9%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2<<locked>>98%41,191 psi89%2664 fps100%
Vihtavuori N110<<locked>>88%40,001 psi86%2717 fps100%
Vihtavuori N120ᴾ<<locked>>100%39,059 psi84%2795 fps98.8%

Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.

Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"

PowderChargeFRMaxP%V(0)z
Accurate No. 11 FS<<locked>>80%36,956 psi80%2674 fps97.3%
ADI AR 2205<<locked>>80%34,722 psi75%2549 fps98.4%
ADI AR 2207<<locked>>92%30,429 psi66%2631 fps95.1%
Hodgdon TrailBoss<<locked>>80%19,522 psi42%1575 fps100%
IMR 4227<<locked>>88%35,665 psi77%2648 fps95.3%
Lovex S05311.8 gr80%26,629 psi57%2438 fps95.7%
ReloadSwiss RS 14<<locked>>80%19,102 psi41%1614 fps100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36<<locked>>90%35,737 psi77%2697 fps95.2%
Shooters World SOCOM<<locked>>84%38,624 psi83%2690 fps95%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2<<locked>>80%25,454 psi55%2333 fps100%
Vihtavuori N11011.3 gr80%31,705 psi68%2549 fps100%
Vihtavuori N12013.9 gr90%29,196 psi63%2566 fps95.9%

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.

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This overview compares 12 powders for .221 Rem. Fireball loaded with the .224 | 51gr | Peregrine VLR-4. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,828 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,762 fps to 2,828 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 of the 12 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.

Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 51.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, Vihtavuori N120 rank at the top here: for .221 Rem. Fireball with the .224 | 51gr | Peregrine VLR-4 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.

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