Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .221 Rem. Fireball with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Expansion Tip bullet and 43 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, Lovex S053 and IMR 4227.
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>> | 82% | 40,712 psi | 88% | 2661 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,943 psi | 86% | 2631 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,422 psi | 87% | 2651 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,321 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,974 psi | 90% | 2589 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,943 psi | 86% | 2562 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,610 psi | 85% | 2756 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,899 psi | 84% | 2730 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,305 psi | 85% | 2746 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,785 psi | 90% | 2717 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,441 psi | 59% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,441 psi | 59% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,905 psi | 58% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,046 psi | 88% | 2671 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,263 psi | 87% | 2641 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,683 psi | 88% | 2661 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,712 psi | 88% | 2674 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,510 psi | 89% | 2677 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,205 psi | 89% | 2667 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,162 psi | 89% | 2687 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,335 psi | 87% | 2657 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,785 psi | 88% | 2674 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,629 psi | 57% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,571 psi | 57% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,092 psi | 56% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,523 psi | 85% | 2690 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,495 psi | 87% | 2694 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,742 psi | 90% | 2726 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,510 psi | 89% | 2677 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,205 psi | 89% | 2667 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,712 psi | 88% | 2674 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,176 psi | 87% | 2635 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,769 psi | 84% | 2595 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,885 psi | 86% | 2625 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,277 psi | 87% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,872 psi | 90% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,900 psi | 86% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,408 psi | 89% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,364 psi | 87% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,031 psi | 88% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,045 psi | 86% | 2723 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,436 psi | 85% | 2700 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,755 psi | 86% | 2713 fps | 99.3% |
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% | 37,594 psi | 81% | 2598 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,753 psi | 79% | 2569 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,275 psi | 80% | 2589 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,752 psi | 77% | 2484 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,983 psi | 75% | 2454 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,447 psi | 76% | 2474 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,153 psi | 63% | 2516 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,514 psi | 61% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,921 psi | 62% | 2507 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,320 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,812 psi | 43% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,638 psi | 42% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,943 psi | 43% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | 12.7 gr | 86% | 34,098 psi | 73% | 2526 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4227 | 12.7 gr | 86% | 33,301 psi | 72% | 2497 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4227 | 12.7 gr | 86% | 33,794 psi | 73% | 2516 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,319 psi | 83% | 2621 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,117 psi | 84% | 2631 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,769 psi | 84% | 2618 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S053 | 11.6 gr | 80% | 27,369 psi | 59% | 2379 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S053 | 11.6 gr | 80% | 26,542 psi | 57% | 2346 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S053 | 11.6 gr | 80% | 27,050 psi | 58% | 2369 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,334 psi | 42% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,160 psi | 41% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,840 psi | 41% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 13.8 gr | 88% | 34,374 psi | 74% | 2582 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 13.8 gr | 88% | 33,692 psi | 73% | 2552 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 13.8 gr | 88% | 34,055 psi | 73% | 2569 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,117 psi | 84% | 2631 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,769 psi | 84% | 2618 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,319 psi | 83% | 2621 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,086 psi | 80% | 2575 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,463 psi | 79% | 2546 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,854 psi | 79% | 2566 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,034 psi | 56% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,193 psi | 54% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,759 psi | 56% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,865 psi | 69% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,546 psi | 68% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,184 psi | 69% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,339 psi | 57% | 2402 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 25,715 psi | 55% | 2372 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 26,078 psi | 56% | 2392 fps | 95.4% |
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 43 powders for .221 Rem. Fireball loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Expansion Tip. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,756 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,690 fps to 2,756 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 56–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, ADI AR 2207, ADI AR 2207 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. ReloadSwiss RS 36, Lovex S053, IMR 4227 rank at the top here: for .221 Rem. Fireball with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Expansion Tip 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.