Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Ackley Improved with .224 | 80gr | Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail - Closed Nose bullet and 82 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LEVERevolution, IMR 4895 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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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 2015 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 2690 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 2677 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,717 psi | 85% | 2674 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,688 psi | 85% | 2694 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,487 psi | 90% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,789 psi | 85% | 2549 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,789 psi | 85% | 2549 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,862 psi | 85% | 2674 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,993 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,196 psi | 87% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 2690 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,008 psi | 87% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 2733 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,356 psi | 90% | 2736 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,935 psi | 87% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 2700 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,932 psi | 80% | 2707 fps | 96.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,661 psi | 90% | 2730 fps | 96.5% |
| Bofors RP3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 2746 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,443 psi | 90% | 2644 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 2713 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 2785 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,949 psi | 85% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 2684 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 2759 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,475 psi | 61% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,573 psi | 88% | 2690 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,311 psi | 86% | 2651 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,545 psi | 90% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 2690 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,356 psi | 90% | 2680 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 2621 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,791 psi | 89% | 2680 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 2694 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 97.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 2710 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 2717 fps | 97.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,225 psi | 88% | 2644 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,808 psi | 61% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,847 psi | 85% | 2644 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,963 psi | 85% | 2782 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 2635 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,356 psi | 90% | 2677 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 903ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,455 psi | 82% | 2674 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,792 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,647 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,066 psi | 87% | 2736 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,110 psi | 89% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,660 psi | 88% | 2697 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,602 psi | 88% | 2605 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,558 psi | 86% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 2677 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,181 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S355ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 2562 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,254 psi | 88% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,195 psi | 86% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,020 psi | 82% | 2621 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,181 psi | 86% | 2644 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,543 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,930 psi | 76% | 2552 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 2733 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 97.9% |
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% | 35,041 psi | 64% | 2402 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 83% | 2638 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,469 psi | 83% | 2638 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 69% | 2484 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,398 psi | 50% | 2287 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,040 psi | 60% | 2415 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,991 psi | 47% | 2257 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,511 psi | 79% | 2490 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 80% | 2503 fps | 99% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,874 psi | 80% | 2503 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,292 psi | 75% | 2572 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,264 psi | 77% | 2569 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,163 psi | 77% | 2582 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2451 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,126 psi | 58% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 71% | 2579 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,064 psi | 84% | 2740 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,998 psi | 65% | 2493 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 72% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,611 psi | 76% | 2598 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,249 psi | 75% | 2651 fps | 95.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,467 psi | 77% | 2487 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,673 psi | 85% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,230 psi | 64% | 2487 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,593 psi | 66% | 2411 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 21.6 gr | 82% | 33,953 psi | 62% | 2451 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,265 psi | 79% | 2680 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 70% | 2510 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,059 psi | 71% | 2526 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,985 psi | 67% | 2493 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | 22.7 gr | 88% | 37,347 psi | 68% | 2543 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,048 psi | 45% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,087 psi | 69% | 2497 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,806 psi | 56% | 2402 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,134 psi | 76% | 2559 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 75% | 2484 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | 22.2 gr | 90% | 39,842 psi | 72% | 2579 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2451 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,238 psi | 84% | 2638 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,536 psi | 68% | 2474 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 54% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,466 psi | 73% | 2484 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,243 psi | 62% | 2418 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 82% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,795 psi | 65% | 2438 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,169 psi | 57% | 2356 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,799 psi | 74% | 2589 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,944 psi | 74% | 2598 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,103 psi | 73% | 2556 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,641 psi | 77% | 2546 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,976 psi | 45% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,566 psi | 70% | 2497 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,598 psi | 79% | 2700 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,866 psi | 61% | 2497 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,143 psi | 64% | 2408 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,216 psi | 66% | 2441 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,565 psi | 68% | 2530 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,238 psi | 84% | 2638 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 54% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,243 psi | 62% | 2418 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,915 psi | 74% | 2503 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,685 psi | 77% | 2585 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,395 psi | 77% | 2635 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,712 psi | 74% | 2516 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,248 psi | 73% | 2549 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,547 psi | 61% | 2329 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,151 psi | 49% | 2195 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 66% | 2470 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,721 psi | 59% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,365 psi | 75% | 2559 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,740 psi | 70% | 2536 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,130 psi | 69% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,373 psi | 61% | 2339 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,384 psi | 52% | 2300 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 54% | 2303 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,721 psi | 59% | 2385 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,260 psi | 66% | 2444 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 52% | 2283 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,407 psi | 72% | 2503 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,576 psi | 59% | 2418 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,928 psi | 71% | 2543 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 99 powders for .223 Ackley Improved loaded with the .224 | 80gr | Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail - Closed Nose . ReloadSwiss RS 52 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,808 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,654 fps to 2,808 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 99 of the 99 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 61–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 80.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5, Alliant Reloder-16 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 LEVERevolution, IMR 4895, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for .223 Ackley Improved with the .224 | 80gr | Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tail - Closed Nose they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.