Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .222 Rem. with .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB bullet and 23 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Norma 200, ADI AR 2207 and ReloadSwiss RS 36.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,472 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,030 psi | 75% | 3022 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,747 psi | 89% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,470 psi | 87% | 3169 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,443 psi | 90% | 3215 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,115 psi | 69% | 3035 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,572 psi | 87% | 3189 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,311 psi | 86% | 3117 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,644 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,037 psi | 56% | 1988 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,282 psi | 86% | 3133 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,514 psi | 89% | 3097 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,892 psi | 89% | 3143 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,745 psi | 85% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,833 psi | 87% | 3179 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,892 psi | 56% | 2041 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,079 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,892 psi | 89% | 3143 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,384 psi | 88% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,529 psi | 89% | 3179 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,399 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,556 psi | 85% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,005 psi | 82% | 3064 fps | 97.8% |
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% | 34,635 psi | 65% | 2812 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,217 psi | 69% | 2959 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 84% | 2953 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17.1 gr | 80% | 29,718 psi | 55% | 2792 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,687 psi | 85% | 3163 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,893 psi | 58% | 2861 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,765 psi | 63% | 2907 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,402 psi | 62% | 2831 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,671 psi | 81% | 2999 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,147 psi | 41% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,590 psi | 61% | 2815 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,043 psi | 69% | 2884 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,252 psi | 84% | 3087 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,347 psi | 68% | 2864 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 200 | 18.8 gr | 84% | 31,749 psi | 59% | 2841 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,727 psi | 40% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 17.8 gr | 80% | 36,405 psi | 68% | 2907 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,252 psi | 84% | 3087 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,011 psi | 63% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,467 psi | 79% | 3077 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,859 psi | 80% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 52% | 2707 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,519 psi | 64% | 2858 fps | 95.1% |
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 23 powders for .222 Rem. loaded with the .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,215 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,988 fps to 3,215 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 of the 23 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (370 MPa), the top charges use 56–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x 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. Norma 200, ADI AR 2207, ReloadSwiss RS 36 rank at the top here: for .222 Rem. with the .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB 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.