Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .221 Rem. Fireball with .224 | 58gr | Peregrine Plainsmaster (VLR-4) bullet and 32 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, ADI AR 2207 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"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,989 psi | 90% | 2595 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,220 psi | 89% | 2503 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,943 psi | 86% | 2510 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,379 psi | 89% | 2703 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,682 psi | 86% | 2700 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,771 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,900 psi | 86% | 2644 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,717 psi | 60% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,195 psi | 61% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 84% | 2621 fps | 96.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,653 psi | 85% | 2559 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,785 psi | 88% | 2612 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,481 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,581 psi | 85% | 2598 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,001 psi | 86% | 2579 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,118 psi | 89% | 2625 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,058 psi | 82% | 2641 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,479 psi | 83% | 2680 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,021 psi | 58% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,398 psi | 59% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,060 psi | 88% | 2631 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,945 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,481 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,581 psi | 85% | 2598 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,088 psi | 84% | 2566 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,423 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,668 psi | 85% | 2454 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,161 psi | 87% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,813 psi | 86% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,437 psi | 87% | 2559 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,756 psi | 90% | 2667 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,059 psi | 86% | 2667 fps | 99.7% |
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% | 39,508 psi | 85% | 2552 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,506 psi | 79% | 2418 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 79% | 2454 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 13.6 gr | 88% | 28,558 psi | 62% | 2418 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 13 gr | 84% | 25,933 psi | 56% | 2375 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,349 psi | 85% | 2602 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,623 psi | 81% | 2598 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,566 psi | 44% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,856 psi | 43% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,811 psi | 79% | 2575 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,531 psi | 68% | 2385 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 65% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,073 psi | 84% | 2556 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 80% | 2549 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 61% | 2320 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,601 psi | 62% | 2359 fps | 98% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,810 psi | 77% | 2595 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,098 psi | 73% | 2589 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,537 psi | 42% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,421 psi | 42% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 13.5 gr | 84% | 31,575 psi | 68% | 2431 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 13.2 gr | 82% | 30,501 psi | 66% | 2438 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,073 psi | 84% | 2556 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 80% | 2549 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,825 psi | 79% | 2520 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,984 psi | 78% | 2470 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,238 psi | 59% | 2211 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,253 psi | 59% | 2238 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,402 psi | 72% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,084 psi | 73% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | 13 gr | 84% | 25,802 psi | 56% | 2306 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | 12.6 gr | 82% | 24,366 psi | 53% | 2293 fps | 95.5% |
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 32 powders for .221 Rem. Fireball loaded with the .224 | 58gr | Peregrine Plainsmaster (VLR-4). ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,703 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,640 fps to 2,703 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 32 of the 32 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 58.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 36, ADI AR 2207, Vihtavuori N120 rank at the top here: for .221 Rem. Fireball with the .224 | 58gr | Peregrine Plainsmaster (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.