Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 55gr | Speer TNT bullet and 46 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 Alliant Reloder-10x.
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>> | 82% | 47,413 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,196 psi | 87% | 3150 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3136 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,178 psi | 78% | 3120 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 3186 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,045 psi | 73% | 3071 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3077 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,907 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,458 psi | 90% | 3225 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 3048 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 3104 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 3222 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,718 psi | 87% | 3192 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3212 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3071 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,227 psi | 58% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,066 psi | 87% | 3264 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 3136 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3209 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,863 psi | 89% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,675 psi | 88% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,226 psi | 89% | 3212 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,198 psi | 58% | 2073 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3163 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 3143 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3209 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 3163 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3199 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,400 psi | 90% | 3114 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,583 psi | 77% | 2999 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 3110 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 3130 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3120 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,005 psi | 80% | 3127 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,862 psi | 85% | 3133 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,484 psi | 83% | 3120 fps | 97.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3248 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% | 44,222 psi | 80% | 2999 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,676 psi | 56% | 2762 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,174 psi | 69% | 2959 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,224 psi | 51% | 2759 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | 26.7 gr | 92% | 40,857 psi | 74% | 3054 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,173 psi | 67% | 3005 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,478 psi | 68% | 2851 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,596 psi | 74% | 2917 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,581 psi | 72% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,259 psi | 64% | 2920 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,411 psi | 48% | 2710 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | 20.8 gr | 80% | 33,272 psi | 60% | 2858 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,915 psi | 74% | 2976 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,969 psi | 65% | 2822 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,976 psi | 82% | 3051 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,107 psi | 82% | 3159 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 22.6 gr | 82% | 34,447 psi | 63% | 2897 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,813 psi | 72% | 3022 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,321 psi | 75% | 2956 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,511 psi | 43% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,590 psi | 59% | 2907 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,041 psi | 64% | 2864 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,814 psi | 74% | 3028 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,743 psi | 79% | 3074 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,003 psi | 76% | 3091 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,079 psi | 84% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 69% | 2953 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,826 psi | 69% | 2979 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,641 psi | 43% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,611 psi | 76% | 3035 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,697 psi | 72% | 2986 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,814 psi | 74% | 3028 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,003 psi | 76% | 3091 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,279 psi | 77% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,406 psi | 70% | 2986 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,982 psi | 62% | 2864 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,725 psi | 70% | 2904 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,114 psi | 64% | 2831 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,128 psi | 64% | 2841 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 72% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,198 psi | 58% | 2766 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,675 psi | 54% | 2700 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,617 psi | 54% | 2785 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,129 psi | 66% | 2907 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,494 psi | 72% | 2995 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,180 psi | 84% | 3182 fps | 95.8% |
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 46 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Speer TNT. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,264 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,024 fps to 3,264 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 46 of the 46 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 1:12.0 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, Alliant Reloder-10x rank at the top here: for .223 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 55gr | Speer TNT 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.