Load data for .223 Ackley Improved + .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus

Recommended Powder(s): ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:	.223 \| 45gr \| Merlin Virtus
Manufacturer SKU:	Merlin-0.223-45
Bullet Weight:	45gr \| 2.9g
Bullet Diameter:	0.223" \| 5.66mm
Bullet Length:	0.700" \| 17.8mm
Caliber:	.223 Ackley Improved load data
Case Length (l3):	1.760" \| 44.7mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):	2.226" \| 56.5mm
Seated Depth:	0.234" \| 5.9mm
Shank Seated Depth:	0.234" \| 5.9mm
Case Capacity:	32.4 Grains of Water \| 2.10 cm³
Primer Size:	Small Rifle (SR)
Max. allowed Pressure:	55114 psi \| 3800 bar
LID:	LID_B10740_C136
Last updated:	2025-02-02
Recommended Twist Rate:	1:12 - 1:10

Load data for 76 loads in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 38 powders such as ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.

Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge unless there are reasons. Since xxlreloading.com has no control over the equipment and components used by the customer and the data used in connection with the website, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected. Also see our Terms of Service.

Questions regarding the load data: Please read the information in the next tab "Explanations".
A load must fulfill certain criteria to be listed in the default view below - see "powder criteria to fulfill to be listed".

Our load data might deviate from other sources - see the "most common reasons for deviations".

All loads are based on the bullet and case dimensions shown under "Load Specifications" - see "reloading suggestions" if you deviate.

You can set your specifications in the "Personalized Load Calculator".

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Our default view only displays powders/loads that fulfill certain criteria: Max pressure of a load <=90% of Max. Standardized Pressure. Fill Rate (Min FR): >80% and <100% for rife loads, >60% and <100% for pistol loads. Min. Propellant Combustion (Min z): >90% for rifle loads , >80% for pistol/revolver loads. Relax these criteria at your own risk to potentially get more powders shown in the load tables.
Case Length (Inch)
Case Length (mm)
CaseCapacity (GoW)
Min z (%)
Min FR (%)
Max FR*
Barrel Length (Inch)
Barrel Length (cm)
Safety Buffer (%)
.

Click on the desired row in the tables below to add a specific load / powder to your Diary and manage there.

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207 👍	<<locked>>	92%	49182	89%	**42	100%
ADI AR 2219	<<locked>>	94%	48544	88%	**61	97%
Accurate 1680	<<locked>>	83%	49240	89%	**92	98%
Accurate 2015	<<locked>>	96%	42482	77%	**94	98%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	97%	47355	86%	**76	94%
Accurate 2495	<<locked>>	97%	34258	62%	**92	95%
Alliant AR-Comp	<<locked>>	96%	37666	68%	**68	98%
Alliant Reloder-10x 👍	<<locked>>	96%	47297	86%	**28	99%
Alliant Reloder-7 👍	<<locked>>	90%	49269	89%	**06	100%
Baschieri & Pellagri 106	<<locked>>	94%	49559	90%	**27	98%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	97%	44918	81%	**84	92%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	89%	48153	87%	**01	92%
Hodgdon H322	<<locked>>	97%	44222	80%	**69	96%
Hodgdon H335	<<locked>>	94%	49023	89%	**45	96%
Hodgdon H4198	<<locked>>	92%	49400	90%	**66	97%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	94%	28123	51%	**42	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	96%	32677	59%	**17	92%
IMR 4198 👍	<<locked>>	95%	47747	87%	**92	100%
IMR 4227	<<locked>>	86%	49501	90%	**73	100%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	95%	48240	88%	**79	94%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	96%	46427	84%	**53	93%
Lovex S053	<<locked>>	86%	48704	88%	**37	100%
Norma 200 👍	<<locked>>	93%	49023	89%	**42	100%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	97%	37130	67%	**86	92%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	94%	27760	50%	**88	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36	<<locked>>	86%	49197	89%	**96	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	96%	46891	85%	**83	94%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	96%	39914	72%	**32	93%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	89%	48573	88%	**63	100%
SNPE Vectan SP 10	<<locked>>	94%	49153	89%	**48	96%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	96%	40553	74%	**66	93%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	95%	49124	89%	**56	92%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	97%	45513	83%	**60	92%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	97%	39334	71%	**63	94%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	93%	48051	87%	**60	100%
Vihtavuori N130	<<locked>>	96%	44860	81%	**10	99%
Vihtavuori N133	<<locked>>	97%	36927	67%	**23	95%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	97%	44483	81%	**63	92%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	81%	34679	63%	**36	99%
[ADI AR 2219]*	<<locked>>	82%	31821	58%	**38	91%
Accurate 1680	<<locked>>	81%	45716	83%	**20	97%
[Accurate 2015]*	<<locked>>	81%	25396	46%	**22	90%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	91%	38928	71%	**92	91%
[Accurate 2495]*	<<locked>>	89%	25396	46%	**20	90%
[Alliant AR-Comp]*	<<locked>>	82%	23801	43%	**12	91%
[Alliant Reloder-10x]*	<<locked>>	81%	28326	51%	**53	93%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	81%	36376	66%	**23	97%
[Baschieri & Pellagri 106]*	<<locked>>	81%	32329	59%	**43	92%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	92%	39001	71%	**46	90%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	85%	41568	75%	**59	90%
[Hodgdon H322]*	<<locked>>	87%	31343	57%	**31	90%
[Hodgdon H335]*	<<locked>>	84%	33837	61%	**91	90%
[Hodgdon H4198]*	<<locked>>	81%	35331	64%	**45	92%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	81%	22684	41%	**95	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	94%	30342	55%	**41	91%
IMR 4198	<<locked>>	81%	31430	57%	**95	96%
IMR 4227	<<locked>>	81%	42424	77%	**32	100%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	89%	37927	69%	**59	90%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	91%	38130	69%	**66	90%
Lovex S053	<<locked>>	81%	41814	76%	**05	100%
Norma 200	<<locked>>	81%	32140	58%	**51	96%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	93%	33228	60%	**84	90%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	81%	22437	41%	**37	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36	<<locked>>	81%	42438	77%	**64	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	89%	37304	68%	**56	90%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	91%	34447	63%	**91	91%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	81%	38696	70%	**95	100%
[SNPE Vectan SP 10]*	<<locked>>	83%	33808	61%	**91	90%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	91%	33547	61%	**99	90%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	91%	43685	79%	**41	90%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	94%	40451	73%	**51	90%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	89%	30313	55%	**27	90%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	81%	32387	59%	**35	99%
[Vihtavuori N130]*	<<locked>>	81%	27267	49%	**51	92%
[Vihtavuori N133]*	<<locked>>	87%	27267	49%	**41	90%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	94%	39581	72%	**48	90%

Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Any powder missing? Then click here.

FR ... fill rate of the cartridge in percent

MaxP ... max. pressure of load in psi or bar

% ... max. pressure of load in percent of the maximum allowed pressure for this caliber

V(0) ... muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s)

z ... powder burnt in percent

[...] *... not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.

[...] ²... fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.

[...] ᴾ... possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.

👍 ... recommended powder/load for this caliber and bullet combination based on its ballistic performance.

<<locked>>... you need to buy an access license to unlock the data