Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 69gr | Barnes Match Burner BT bullet and 69 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Winchester 748, IMR 3031 and Hodgdon BL-C2.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 2874 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,834 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,166 psi | 84% | 2861 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,281 psi | 82% | 2871 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 2789 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 2749 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 2917 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,949 psi | 85% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2890 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 2982 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,571 psi | 83% | 2867 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,298 psi | 88% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,327 psi | 88% | 2772 fps | 99.9% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,237 psi | 82% | 2871 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2838 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 2897 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 2864 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,370 psi | 88% | 2785 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 2881 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,993 psi | 87% | 2940 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,083 psi | 60% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,427 psi | 86% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,921 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2890 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 2884 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,979 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 2890 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 2887 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,196 psi | 87% | 2864 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,573 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 203Bᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 2927 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot Big Gameᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 2943 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 2900 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,272 psi | 60% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 2890 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,976 psi | 80% | 2904 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 2864 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 2884 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 2890 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 2887 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,369 psi | 84% | 2789 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 2887 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,791 psi | 89% | 2858 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 2884 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 2792 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 2782 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 2867 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,806 psi | 90% | 2838 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,530 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,776 psi | 89% | 2864 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,582 psi | 75% | 2746 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 2884 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,195 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 96.4% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,213 psi | 58% | 2523 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,998 psi | 64% | 2602 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,961 psi | 45% | 2392 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,244 psi | 64% | 2648 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,748 psi | 56% | 2562 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,234 psi | 75% | 2641 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,597 psi | 75% | 2648 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 2867 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,019 psi | 80% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,073 psi | 71% | 2717 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,872 psi | 74% | 2726 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 54% | 2546 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,700 psi | 79% | 2871 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,147 psi | 73% | 2762 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,333 psi | 68% | 2654 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 82% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 72% | 2621 fps | 98.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,380 psi | 77% | 2818 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,348 psi | 70% | 2628 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 24.2 gr | 88% | 38,348 psi | 70% | 2733 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 2644 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,463 psi | 66% | 2661 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,440 psi | 82% | 2736 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,758 psi | 79% | 2818 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,959 psi | 76% | 2822 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,598 psi | 45% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,946 psi | 78% | 2779 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 3031 | 19.9 gr | 80% | 28,224 psi | 51% | 2507 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 70% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,991 psi | 82% | 2867 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,872 psi | 74% | 2726 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 2766 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,173 psi | 67% | 2648 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,663 psi | 61% | 2621 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,266 psi | 82% | 2756 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,480 psi | 73% | 2736 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,119 psi | 76% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,016 psi | 73% | 2710 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,822 psi | 60% | 2575 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,919 psi | 83% | 2874 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,253 psi | 84% | 2881 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,687 psi | 83% | 2848 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,439 psi | 44% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,447 psi | 64% | 2612 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,508 psi | 70% | 2779 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 59% | 2526 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,451 psi | 73% | 2710 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 2766 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,663 psi | 61% | 2621 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,480 psi | 73% | 2736 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,540 psi | 79% | 2736 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,556 psi | 83% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,929 psi | 72% | 2726 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,579 psi | 68% | 2654 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,831 psi | 81% | 2822 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,214 psi | 60% | 2497 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,572 psi | 52% | 2398 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,276 psi | 69% | 2694 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,545 psi | 55% | 2451 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 80% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 64% | 2556 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,864 psi | 56% | 2461 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,933 psi | 47% | 2405 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,995 psi | 56% | 2507 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,044 psi | 71% | 2697 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,162 psi | 75% | 2726 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,082 psi | 58% | 2546 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | 23.2 gr | 86% | 36,651 psi | 67% | 2694 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,324 psi | 80% | 2831 fps | 95.7% |
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 69 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 69gr | Barnes Match Burner BT. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,982 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,795 fps to 2,982 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 69 of the 69 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 60–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 69.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 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. Winchester 748, IMR 3031, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .223 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 69gr | Barnes Match Burner BT 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.