Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 55gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet and 44 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2219, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and Hodgdon H335.
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 3133 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,089 psi | 73% | 3045 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 3182 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3074 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3028 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3163 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 3225 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,400 psi | 90% | 3186 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3084 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,718 psi | 87% | 3045 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,892 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,557 psi | 84% | 3143 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,863 psi | 87% | 3064 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,923 psi | 58% | 1998 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,730 psi | 83% | 3202 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,066 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,341 psi | 88% | 3159 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3130 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,382 psi | 82% | 3143 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,949 psi | 85% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,400 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 3153 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,879 psi | 58% | 2047 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 3156 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,341 psi | 88% | 3159 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,382 psi | 82% | 3143 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,921 psi | 87% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3166 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,529 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 3054 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,132 psi | 73% | 2927 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,704 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,834 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,153 psi | 89% | 3110 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,089 psi | 75% | 3054 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,295 psi | 80% | 3068 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,134 psi | 78% | 3054 fps | 96.3% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,380 psi | 77% | 2946 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,169 psi | 57% | 2762 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,336 psi | 75% | 3012 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,211 psi | 55% | 2808 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,234 psi | 75% | 3048 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,114 psi | 66% | 2799 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,801 psi | 79% | 2963 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 68% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.3 gr | 82% | 35,752 psi | 65% | 2913 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,193 psi | 46% | 2651 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,633 psi | 57% | 2799 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,291 psi | 71% | 2927 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,519 psi | 63% | 2772 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,579 psi | 68% | 2959 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 24.8 gr | 88% | 40,712 psi | 74% | 3025 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,784 psi | 72% | 2900 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,337 psi | 42% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,011 psi | 60% | 2900 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,446 psi | 61% | 2805 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,078 psi | 82% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,759 psi | 81% | 3091 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,324 psi | 80% | 3068 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,901 psi | 76% | 3074 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 80% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,723 psi | 65% | 2887 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,479 psi | 70% | 2979 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,047 psi | 42% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,802 psi | 81% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,150 psi | 82% | 3091 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,234 psi | 73% | 2982 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,759 psi | 81% | 3091 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,901 psi | 76% | 3074 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,727 psi | 74% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 23.7 gr | 84% | 39,044 psi | 71% | 2982 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,563 psi | 63% | 2861 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,436 psi | 72% | 2900 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,433 psi | 64% | 2822 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,621 psi | 65% | 2835 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,855 psi | 69% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,748 psi | 56% | 2713 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,198 psi | 58% | 2756 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,211 psi | 55% | 2785 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,175 psi | 71% | 2959 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,132 psi | 73% | 2992 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 44 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,225 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,998 fps to 3,225 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, 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. Accurate 2495, Alliant AR-Comp, 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. ADI AR 2219, SNPE Vectan SP 10, Hodgdon H335 rank at the top here: for .223 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 55gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos 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.