Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 29 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, ADI AR 2207 and Alliant Reloder-7.
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: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,852 psi | 85% | 3245 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,968 psi | 85% | 3235 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,216 psi | 89% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,114 psi | 88% | 3205 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 3373 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 3383 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,087 psi | 61% | 3107 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,674 psi | 76% | 3271 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 3314 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 3264 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 3297 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,791 psi | 48% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,111 psi | 80% | 3281 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 3310 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 3356 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 3333 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 3379 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,457 psi | 47% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 3340 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 3333 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 3356 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 3264 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3143 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,443 psi | 79% | 3287 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,143 psi | 88% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,244 psi | 87% | 3323 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,412 psi | 74% | 3173 fps | 97.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,234 psi | 65% | 3002 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,647 psi | 80% | 3176 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,981 psi | 82% | 3225 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,469 psi | 73% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 19.1 gr | 80% | 29,994 psi | 48% | 2851 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,922 psi | 80% | 3307 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,650 psi | 57% | 3041 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,436 psi | 63% | 3100 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 20.8 gr | 84% | 36,419 psi | 58% | 2966 fps | 95.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,327 psi | 77% | 3150 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 3235 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,712 psi | 35% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,302 psi | 57% | 2953 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 60% | 2972 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,890 psi | 74% | 3182 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,619 psi | 83% | 3264 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,506 psi | 59% | 2946 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,564 psi | 59% | 3018 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,161 psi | 34% | 1909 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.9 gr | 80% | 36,956 psi | 59% | 2986 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,619 psi | 83% | 3264 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,890 psi | 74% | 3182 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,296 psi | 74% | 3136 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,374 psi | 55% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,253 psi | 74% | 3222 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,018 psi | 69% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,255 psi | 49% | 2831 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,669 psi | 65% | 3051 fps | 95.6% |
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 29 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,383 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,090 fps to 3,383 fps. ADI AR 2219 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 29 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 47–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 45.0 gr projectile in 0.223" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2219, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x 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. ReloadSwiss RS 36, ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus 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.