Load data for .223 Rem. (5.56 x 45 NATO) + .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus
Recommended Powder(s): ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200, ReloadSwiss RS 36
Load Specifications
(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )
Bullet: | .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus |
Manufacturer SKU: | Merlin-0.223-55 |
Bullet Weight: | 55gr | 3.6g |
Bullet Diameter: | 0.223" | 5.66mm |
Bullet Length: | 0.830" | 21.1mm |
Caliber: | .223 Rem. (5.56 x 45 NATO) load data |
Case Length (l3): | 1.759" | 44.7mm |
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.): | 2.226" | 56.5mm |
Seated Depth: | 0.363" | 9.2mm |
Shank Seated Depth: | 0.245" | 6.2mm |
Case Capacity: | 28.8 Grains of Water | 1.87 cm³ |
Primer Size: | Small Rifle (SR) |
Max. allowed Pressure: | 62366 psi | 4300 bar |
LID: | LID_B10741_C134 |
Last updated: | 2025-01-01 |
Recommended Twist Rate: | 1:10 - 1:8 |
Load data for 88 loads in caliber .223 Rem. (5.56 x 45 NATO) with .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 44 powders such as ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200, ReloadSwiss RS 36. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge unless there are reasons. Since xxlreloading.com has no control over the equipment and components used by the customer and the data used in connection with the website, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected. Also see our Terms of Service.
Questions regarding the load data: Please read the information in the next tab "Explanations".
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A load must fulfill certain criteria to be listed in the default view below - see "powder criteria to fulfill to be listed".
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Our load data might deviate from other sources - see the "most common reasons for deviations".
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All loads are based on the bullet and case dimensions shown under "Load Specifications" - see "reloading suggestions" if you deviate.
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You can set your specifications in the "Personalized Load Calculator".
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Use the Personalized Load Calculator to customize loads to your own specific requirements. Find more details in the help section.
Our default view only displays powders/loads that fulfill certain criteria: Max pressure of a load <=90% of Max. Standardized Pressure. Fill Rate (Min FR): >80% and <100% for rife loads, >60% and <100% for pistol loads. Min. Propellant Combustion (Min z): >90% for rifle loads , >80% for pistol/revolver loads. Relax these criteria at your own risk to potentially get more powders shown in the load tables.
Click on the desired row in the tables below to add a specific load / powder to your Diary and manage there.
Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54766 | 88% | **86 | 100% |
ADI AR 2207 👍 | <<locked>> | 97% | 55680 | 89% | **82 | 100% |
ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 97% | 51053 | 82% | **63 | 98% |
Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 87% | 55085 | 88% | **36 | 99% |
Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40538 | 65% | **40 | 98% |
[Accurate 2230]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 46731 | 75% | **05 | 92% |
[Accurate 2460]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 45179 | 72% | **15 | 94% |
Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 31314 | 50% | **25 | 95% |
Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 36216 | 58% | **17 | 99% |
Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 97% | 45890 | 74% | **64 | 99% |
Alliant Reloder-7 👍 | <<locked>> | 95% | 54853 | 88% | **40 | 100% |
Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 97% | 53011 | 85% | **61 | 99% |
[Hodgdon Benchmark]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 42322 | 68% | **00 | 92% |
Hodgdon CFE BLK | <<locked>> | 95% | 55869 | 90% | **97 | 95% |
Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40944 | 66% | **69 | 95% |
Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 97% | 50908 | 82% | **53 | 97% |
Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54839 | 88% | **10 | 98% |
Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 96% | 29037 | 47% | **83 | 100% |
[IMR 3031]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 31604 | 51% | **85 | 92% |
IMR 4198 👍 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47181 | 76% | **41 | 100% |
IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 89% | 54085 | 87% | **91 | 100% |
Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55143 | 88% | **53 | 100% |
[Lovex D073.4]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 47703 | 76% | **41 | 94% |
[Lovex D073.5]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 43207 | 69% | **72 | 93% |
Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 91% | 54853 | 88% | **71 | 100% |
Norma 200 👍 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51024 | 82% | **36 | 100% |
[Norma 202]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 34635 | 56% | **25 | 92% |
ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28674 | 46% | **26 | 100% |
ReloadSwiss RS 36 👍 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55129 | 88% | **40 | 100% |
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 45353 | 73% | **25 | 94% |
[Rottweil R 901]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 38943 | 62% | **87 | 93% |
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53708 | 86% | **90 | 100% |
SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50183 | 80% | **36 | 97% |
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 38856 | 62% | **22 | 93% |
Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 55143 | 88% | **53 | 100% |
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 49530 | 79% | **35 | 93% |
[Somchem S321]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 43265 | 69% | **95 | 92% |
[Somchem S335]* | <<locked>> | 96% | 36593 | 59% | **99 | 94% |
Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54897 | 88% | **99 | 100% |
Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 97% | 51706 | 83% | **74 | 100% |
Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 97% | 43613 | 70% | **53 | 99% |
Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 97% | 35592 | 57% | **85 | 96% |
[Vihtavuori N140]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 33692 | 54% | **59 | 92% |
[Winchester 748]* | <<locked>> | 97% | 42525 | 68% | **99 | 92% |
Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''
Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 81% | 50343 | 81% | **20 | 100% |
ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 81% | 33794 | 54% | **92 | 99% |
[ADI AR 2219]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 30052 | 48% | **87 | 90% |
Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 81% | 44164 | 71% | **53 | 97% |
[Accurate 2015]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 24366 | 39% | **16 | 91% |
[Accurate 2230]* | <<locked>> | 95% | 42598 | 68% | **30 | 90% |
[Accurate 2460]* | <<locked>> | 91% | 35955 | 58% | **25 | 90% |
[Accurate 2495]* | <<locked>> | 89% | 24352 | 39% | **12 | 91% |
[Alliant AR-Comp]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 22336 | 36% | **74 | 91% |
[Alliant Reloder-10x]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 27717 | 44% | **35 | 94% |
Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 81% | 35505 | 57% | **82 | 97% |
[Baschieri & Pellagri 106]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 31096 | 50% | **21 | 92% |
[Hodgdon Benchmark]* | <<locked>> | 92% | 37173 | 60% | **92 | 90% |
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]* | <<locked>> | 85% | 39900 | 64% | **05 | 90% |
[Hodgdon H322]* | <<locked>> | 86% | 30052 | 48% | **87 | 90% |
[Hodgdon H335]* | <<locked>> | 83% | 31850 | 51% | **40 | 90% |
[Hodgdon H4198]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 34098 | 55% | **94 | 92% |
Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22495 | 36% | **22 | 100% |
[IMR 3031]* | <<locked>> | 93% | 27891 | 45% | **74 | 90% |
IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 81% | 30298 | 49% | **61 | 96% |
IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 81% | 41321 | 66% | **71 | 100% |
Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 81% | 50444 | 81% | **71 | 100% |
[Lovex D073.4]* | <<locked>> | 89% | 36172 | 58% | **12 | 90% |
[Lovex D073.5]* | <<locked>> | 91% | 35955 | 58% | **25 | 90% |
Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 81% | 40466 | 65% | **35 | 100% |
Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 81% | 31285 | 50% | **30 | 97% |
[Norma 202]* | <<locked>> | 93% | 31749 | 51% | **49 | 90% |
ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 81% | 22336 | 36% | **65 | 100% |
ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 81% | 40538 | 65% | **84 | 100% |
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]* | <<locked>> | 89% | 34925 | 56% | **95 | 90% |
[Rottweil R 901]* | <<locked>> | 91% | 32837 | 53% | **40 | 91% |
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 81% | 37956 | 61% | **48 | 100% |
[SNPE Vectan SP 10]* | <<locked>> | 83% | 32663 | 52% | **62 | 91% |
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]* | <<locked>> | 91% | 32401 | 52% | **74 | 91% |
Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 81% | 50444 | 81% | **71 | 100% |
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]* | <<locked>> | 92% | 43294 | 69% | **20 | 91% |
[Somchem S321]* | <<locked>> | 93% | 38116 | 61% | **90 | 90% |
[Somchem S335]* | <<locked>> | 89% | 29559 | 47% | **18 | 91% |
Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 81% | 47558 | 76% | **00 | 100% |
Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 81% | 31357 | 50% | **90 | 100% |
[Vihtavuori N130]* | <<locked>> | 81% | 26716 | 43% | **46 | 93% |
[Vihtavuori N133]* | <<locked>> | 85% | 25019 | 40% | **80 | 90% |
[Vihtavuori N140]* | <<locked>> | 94% | 30980 | 50% | **94 | 90% |
[Winchester 748]* | <<locked>> | 94% | 39015 | 63% | **27 | 91% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''
Any powder missing? Then click here.
FR ... fill rate of the cartridge in percent
MaxP ... max. pressure of load in psi or bar
% ... max. pressure of load in percent of the maximum allowed pressure for this caliber
V(0) ... muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s)
z ... powder burnt in percent
[...] *... not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
[...] ²... fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
[...] ᴾ... possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
👍 ... recommended powder/load for this caliber and bullet combination based on its ballistic performance.