Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon HP bullet and 48 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H322, Accurate 2520 and SNPE Vectan SP 10.
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>> | 82% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,805 psi | 89% | 3163 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 3153 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,250 psi | 78% | 3120 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 3199 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,132 psi | 73% | 3074 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3081 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,979 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,341 psi | 88% | 3146 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,644 psi | 85% | 3176 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,138 psi | 87% | 3245 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3199 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,673 psi | 85% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3228 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,341 psi | 88% | 3209 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,470 psi | 84% | 3163 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,010 psi | 58% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 3278 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,543 psi | 86% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 3176 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3150 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3225 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3192 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3225 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,995 psi | 58% | 2070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 3166 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,848 psi | 87% | 3159 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 3176 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3225 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,442 psi | 86% | 3176 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3202 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,612 psi | 77% | 3002 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 3196 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 3123 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,472 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,106 psi | 80% | 3130 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 3136 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,455 psi | 82% | 3120 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3251 fps | 96.7% |
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% | 44,309 psi | 80% | 3002 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,821 psi | 56% | 2769 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,232 psi | 69% | 2963 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,718 psi | 52% | 2776 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | 26.9 gr | 92% | 41,379 psi | 75% | 3071 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,070 psi | 64% | 2956 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 2864 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,698 psi | 74% | 2920 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 72% | 2986 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,375 psi | 64% | 2927 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,789 psi | 49% | 2726 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,417 psi | 61% | 2864 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,510 psi | 75% | 2992 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,448 psi | 66% | 2835 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,034 psi | 82% | 3058 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,658 psi | 83% | 3173 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 22.7 gr | 82% | 34,534 psi | 63% | 2904 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,666 psi | 68% | 2976 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,901 psi | 76% | 2969 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,801 psi | 43% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,054 psi | 60% | 2923 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 64% | 2871 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,365 psi | 75% | 3045 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,353 psi | 80% | 3087 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,523 psi | 72% | 3038 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,209 psi | 84% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 2959 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 3140 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,334 psi | 70% | 2992 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,496 psi | 43% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,177 psi | 77% | 3051 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,784 psi | 72% | 2992 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,365 psi | 75% | 3045 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,523 psi | 72% | 3038 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,438 psi | 77% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 24.3 gr | 82% | 38,508 psi | 70% | 2989 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,084 psi | 62% | 2867 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,827 psi | 70% | 2910 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,172 psi | 64% | 2835 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,469 psi | 83% | 3133 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,621 psi | 65% | 2854 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 72% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,329 psi | 59% | 2772 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,791 psi | 54% | 2707 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,052 psi | 55% | 2799 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,187 psi | 66% | 2913 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,001 psi | 73% | 3009 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,555 psi | 79% | 3130 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 48 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon HP. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,278 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,021 fps to 3,278 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 48 of the 48 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 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, 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. Hodgdon H322, Accurate 2520, SNPE Vectan SP 10 rank at the top here: for .223 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon HP 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.