Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB bullet and 22 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, Shooters World Buffalo Rifle and Lovex D060.
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>> | 96% | 53,577 psi | 86% | 3510 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 3583 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,144 psi | 90% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 3514 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,734 psi | 80% | 3583 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 3586 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,572 psi | 46% | 2297 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 3599 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,462 psi | 87% | 3553 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,780 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,680 psi | 89% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,789 psi | 75% | 3501 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,152 psi | 45% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,447 psi | 87% | 3615 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,692 psi | 84% | 3553 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,924 psi | 85% | 3406 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 3547 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,922 psi | 80% | 3540 fps | 99.7% |
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>> | 92% | 47,079 psi | 75% | 3389 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,746 psi | 75% | 3471 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,005 psi | 72% | 3389 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,504 psi | 84% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,394 psi | 66% | 3235 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,084 psi | 55% | 3222 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,050 psi | 75% | 3461 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,856 psi | 33% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,116 psi | 61% | 3238 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D060 | 20.1 gr | 84% | 46,746 psi | 75% | 3471 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,524 psi | 67% | 3291 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,966 psi | 82% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,706 psi | 52% | 3104 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,801 psi | 70% | 3438 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,291 psi | 33% | 2106 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 21.4 gr | 86% | 39,421 psi | 63% | 3301 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,238 psi | 74% | 3425 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | 20.1 gr | 84% | 46,746 psi | 75% | 3471 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,118 psi | 66% | 3281 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 49% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,985 psi | 61% | 3228 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,124 psi | 48% | 3068 fps | 95% |
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 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB. Accurate 5744 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,655 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,297 fps to 3,655 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 36.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.0 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. ReloadSwiss RS 36, Shooters World Buffalo Rifle, Lovex D060 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB 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.