Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 35gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Lead Free bullet and 22 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Shooters World Buffalo Rifle, Lovex D060 and Accurate 5744.
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>> | 98% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 3576 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,926 psi | 88% | 3668 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 3586 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 3520 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,051 psi | 77% | 3583 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,198 psi | 82% | 3570 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 3658 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,326 psi | 45% | 2316 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 3602 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 3655 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,982 psi | 85% | 3553 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,680 psi | 89% | 3573 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 3609 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,891 psi | 45% | 2369 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 3678 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 3629 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 3655 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,608 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,271 psi | 82% | 3419 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,211 psi | 77% | 3543 fps | 99.4% |
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>> | 94% | 48,878 psi | 78% | 3448 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 5744 | 20.3 gr | 84% | 48,356 psi | 78% | 3533 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,077 psi | 71% | 3399 fps | 98% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,474 psi | 83% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 64% | 3235 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,563 psi | 55% | 3264 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,993 psi | 77% | 3504 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,532 psi | 83% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,552 psi | 33% | 2083 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,363 psi | 63% | 3297 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D060 | 20.3 gr | 86% | 48,356 psi | 78% | 3533 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,975 psi | 69% | 3353 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,313 psi | 79% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,415 psi | 50% | 3097 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,972 psi | 32% | 2119 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,654 psi | 65% | 3360 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 72% | 3422 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | 20.3 gr | 86% | 48,356 psi | 78% | 3533 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,962 psi | 72% | 3399 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,718 psi | 48% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 59% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,054 psi | 53% | 3186 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 22 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 35gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Lead Free. ReloadSwiss RS 36 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,678 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,316 fps to 3,678 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 22 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 45–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 35.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, 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. Shooters World Buffalo Rifle, Lovex D060, Accurate 5744 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 35gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Lead Free 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.