Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 55gr | MEN SP bullet and 38 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>> | 86% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 3045 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3120 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 3114 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,666 psi | 67% | 2953 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3143 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 3048 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,137 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,892 psi | 89% | 3117 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3140 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,237 psi | 82% | 3153 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3159 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 3028 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,573 psi | 88% | 3163 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3058 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,386 psi | 57% | 1962 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 3110 fps | 97.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,355 psi | 86% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,748 psi | 90% | 3146 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,845 psi | 80% | 3068 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,343 psi | 57% | 2011 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,674 psi | 87% | 3107 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3136 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,312 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,732 psi | 87% | 3136 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 3031 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,658 psi | 83% | 3025 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,572 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,412 psi | 84% | 3038 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,406 psi | 70% | 2976 fps | 97.7% |
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 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,147 psi | 73% | 2874 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,098 psi | 60% | 2795 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,321 psi | 75% | 2989 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,052 psi | 55% | 2789 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,324 psi | 80% | 3084 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,564 psi | 66% | 2782 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,759 psi | 81% | 2953 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,839 psi | 65% | 2867 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.2 gr | 86% | 38,827 psi | 70% | 2963 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,050 psi | 49% | 2694 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,573 psi | 54% | 2720 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 67% | 2854 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,780 psi | 63% | 2753 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,840 psi | 69% | 2940 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 24 gr | 90% | 40,814 psi | 74% | 3002 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,350 psi | 73% | 2887 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,931 psi | 42% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,346 psi | 64% | 2940 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,836 psi | 58% | 2736 fps | 97.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,163 psi | 78% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,411 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,076 psi | 76% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,547 psi | 61% | 2815 fps | 97.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,017 psi | 74% | 3009 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,061 psi | 42% | 1808 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,482 psi | 77% | 2963 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,426 psi | 82% | 3068 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 3005 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,411 psi | 82% | 3077 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 71% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 23.5 gr | 88% | 41,989 psi | 76% | 3025 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,360 psi | 62% | 2831 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,090 psi | 76% | 2930 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,218 psi | 69% | 2874 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,013 psi | 65% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,892 psi | 52% | 2638 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,227 psi | 58% | 2733 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 31,879 psi | 58% | 2812 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 38 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 55gr | MEN SP. Hodgdon H322 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,163 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,962 fps to 3,163 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 38 of the 38 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:7.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2495, Accurate 2520 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 | MEN SP 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.