Load data for .223 Ackley Improved + .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus

Recommended Powder(s): ADI AR 2219, Accurate 2015, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, Vihtavuori N130

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:	.223 \| 55gr \| Merlin Virtus
Manufacturer SKU:	Merlin-0.223-55
Bullet Weight:	55gr \| 3.6g
Bullet Diameter:	0.223" \| 5.66mm
Bullet Length:	0.830" \| 21.1mm
Caliber:	.223 Ackley Improved load data
Case Length (l3):	1.760" \| 44.7mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):	2.226" \| 56.5mm
Seated Depth:	0.364" \| 9.2mm
Shank Seated Depth:	0.246" \| 6.2mm
Case Capacity:	32.4 Grains of Water \| 2.10 cm³
Primer Size:	Small Rifle (SR)
Max. allowed Pressure:	55114 psi \| 3800 bar
LID:	LID_B10741_C136
Last updated:	2025-02-02
Recommended Twist Rate:	1:10 - 1:8

Load data for 106 loads in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 53 powders such as ADI AR 2219, Accurate 2015, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, Vihtavuori N130. 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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Use the Personalized Load Calculator to customize loads to your own specific requirements. Find more details in the help section.

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.

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>>	87%	47703	87%	**20	100%
ADI AR 2219 👍	<<locked>>	91%	49501	90%	**09	99%
Accurate 2015 👍	<<locked>>	97%	48979	89%	**63	100%
[Accurate 2230]*	<<locked>>	94%	49342	90%	**36	94%
Accurate 2460	<<locked>>	94%	48327	88%	**43	96%
Accurate 2495	<<locked>>	96%	39552	72%	**68	98%
Accurate 2520	<<locked>>	97%	43250	78%	**04	96%
[Accurate 4064]*	<<locked>>	96%	32416	59%	**77	93%
Alliant AR-Comp 👍	<<locked>>	96%	42627	77%	**33	100%
Alliant Reloder-10x 👍	<<locked>>	93%	48182	87%	**69	100%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	87%	48486	88%	**14	100%
Baschieri & Pellagri 106	<<locked>>	91%	49545	90%	**84	99%
[Hodgdon BL-C2]*	<<locked>>	97%	45382	82%	**50	94%
Hodgdon Benchmark	<<locked>>	96%	49313	89%	**14	96%
Hodgdon CFE BLK	<<locked>>	87%	48428	88%	**58	95%
Hodgdon H322	<<locked>>	97%	48588	88%	**89	98%
Hodgdon H335	<<locked>>	91%	47819	87%	**73	98%
Hodgdon H4198	<<locked>>	89%	49023	89%	**97	98%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	94%	29254	53%	**49	100%
IMR 3031	<<locked>>	96%	35984	65%	**92	96%
IMR 4198	<<locked>>	93%	49327	90%	**46	100%
[IMR 8208 XBR]*	<<locked>>	96%	45353	82%	**94	94%
Lovex D073.4	<<locked>>	93%	48936	89%	**36	96%
Lovex D073.5	<<locked>>	95%	49342	90%	**66	96%
Lovex D073.6	<<locked>>	97%	39856	72%	**31	95%
Lovex S053	<<locked>>	84%	49501	90%	**51	100%
[Lovex S060]*	<<locked>>	96%	45165	82%	**22	92%
Norma 200	<<locked>>	89%	48095	87%	**53	100%
[Norma 201]*	<<locked>>	96%	41466	75%	**18	93%
Norma 202	<<locked>>	96%	41626	76%	**54	96%
[Ramshot Wild Boar]*	<<locked>>	96%	45266	82%	**04	92%
[Ramshot X-Terminator]*	<<locked>>	95%	49095	89%	**14	93%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	94%	28950	53%	**91	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 40	<<locked>>	94%	47950	87%	**53	96%
Rottweil R 901	<<locked>>	97%	45847	83%	**10	97%
[Rottweil R 902]*	<<locked>>	97%	39276	71%	**56	92%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	87%	48921	89%	**81	100%
SNPE Vectan SP 10	<<locked>>	90%	47747	87%	**63	97%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000	<<locked>>	97%	45440	82%	**25	97%
SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000	<<locked>>	97%	36274	66%	**41	95%
Shooters World Match Rifle	<<locked>>	97%	39856	72%	**31	95%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	92%	49284	89%	**10	94%
Somchem S321	<<locked>>	95%	48124	87%	**63	95%
Somchem S335	<<locked>>	96%	43424	79%	**09	97%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	90%	48298	88%	**74	100%
Vihtavuori N130 👍	<<locked>>	96%	49095	89%	**14	100%
Vihtavuori N133	<<locked>>	96%	40306	73%	**56	98%
Vihtavuori N135	<<locked>>	96%	30255	55%	**82	95%
Vihtavuori N140	<<locked>>	96%	38334	70%	**53	95%
Vihtavuori N530	<<locked>>	96%	48617	88%	**69	95%
Vihtavuori N540	<<locked>>	96%	38159	69%	**66	95%
Winchester 748	<<locked>>	96%	48660	88%	**15	96%
[Winchester StaBALL Match]*	<<locked>>	93%	47892	87%	**69	94%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	81%	38943	71%	**56	100%
ADI AR 2219	<<locked>>	81%	34708	63%	**87	95%
Accurate 2015	<<locked>>	81%	29037	53%	**20	95%
[Accurate 2230]*	<<locked>>	87%	37434	68%	**90	90%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	83%	32445	59%	**95	90%
[Accurate 2495]*	<<locked>>	81%	22495	41%	**82	91%
[Accurate 2520]*	<<locked>>	87%	29849	54%	**82	90%
[Accurate 4064]*	<<locked>>	90%	26353	48%	**00	90%
Alliant AR-Comp	<<locked>>	81%	25454	46%	**67	95%
Alliant Reloder-10x	<<locked>>	81%	32242	59%	**22	97%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	81%	40001	73%	**49	99%
Baschieri & Pellagri 106	<<locked>>	81%	35766	65%	**02	96%
[Hodgdon BL-C2]*	<<locked>>	91%	35868	65%	**36	90%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	85%	33939	62%	**82	90%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	81%	40176	73%	**87	92%
[Hodgdon H322]*	<<locked>>	81%	29225	53%	**30	92%
[Hodgdon H335]*	<<locked>>	81%	33939	62%	**64	93%
Hodgdon H4198	<<locked>>	81%	39073	71%	**87	96%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	81%	23453	43%	**04	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	85%	25396	46%	**54	90%
IMR 4198	<<locked>>	81%	34737	63%	**48	99%
[IMR 8208 XBR]*	<<locked>>	89%	36100	65%	**84	90%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	82%	32764	59%	**95	90%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	84%	33054	60%	**08	91%
[Lovex D073.6]*	<<locked>>	89%	29849	54%	**82	90%
Lovex S053	<<locked>>	81%	45934	83%	**95	100%
[Lovex S060]*	<<locked>>	93%	40466	73%	**20	90%
Norma 200	<<locked>>	81%	36637	66%	**13	99%
[Norma 201]*	<<locked>>	92%	35505	64%	**77	90%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	85%	28137	51%	**97	90%
[Ramshot Wild Boar]*	<<locked>>	93%	40422	73%	**05	90%
[Ramshot X-Terminator]*	<<locked>>	89%	40886	74%	**53	90%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	81%	23322	42%	**47	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	81%	31343	57%	**72	90%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	82%	28834	52%	**90	90%
[Rottweil R 902]*	<<locked>>	93%	34925	63%	**51	90%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	81%	41945	76%	**69	100%
[SNPE Vectan SP 10]*	<<locked>>	81%	35230	64%	**90	94%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	82%	28137	51%	**12	90%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000]*	<<locked>>	87%	26542	48%	**75	91%
[Shooters World Match Rifle]*	<<locked>>	89%	29849	54%	**82	90%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	84%	37449	68%	**74	90%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	85%	34040	62%	**54	90%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	81%	26440	48%	**85	90%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	81%	36419	66%	**61	100%
Vihtavuori N130	<<locked>>	81%	30589	55%	**20	96%
[Vihtavuori N133]*	<<locked>>	81%	25237	46%	**49	92%
[Vihtavuori N135]*	<<locked>>	89%	23786	43%	**62	90%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	87%	28195	51%	**77	91%
[Vihtavuori N530]*	<<locked>>	87%	35288	64%	**81	90%
[Vihtavuori N540]*	<<locked>>	88%	29356	53%	**36	91%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	85%	33199	60%	**58	90%
[Winchester StaBALL Match]*	<<locked>>	87%	38145	69%	**59	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.