Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 40gr | Nosler Varmageddon bullet and 23 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>> | 94% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 3402 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 3527 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 3379 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,042 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,353 psi | 73% | 3366 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 3474 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,515 psi | 47% | 2205 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,080 psi | 77% | 3383 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 3478 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,200 psi | 85% | 3478 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,040 psi | 85% | 3435 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,289 psi | 90% | 3471 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,054 psi | 83% | 3481 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,211 psi | 47% | 2254 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,216 psi | 89% | 3497 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,040 psi | 85% | 3435 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,200 psi | 85% | 3478 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 3432 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 3281 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,680 psi | 89% | 3406 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 3491 fps | 100% |
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>> | 88% | 44,063 psi | 71% | 3215 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,504 psi | 84% | 3465 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,559 psi | 78% | 3333 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,113 psi | 85% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,280 psi | 71% | 3173 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 19.8 gr | 82% | 30,618 psi | 49% | 3002 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,496 psi | 68% | 3304 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 22.5 gr | 90% | 42,134 psi | 68% | 3235 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,683 psi | 35% | 1985 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,306 psi | 65% | 3209 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,085 psi | 58% | 3064 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,019 psi | 71% | 3287 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,705 psi | 80% | 3373 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,099 psi | 56% | 3048 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,103 psi | 64% | 3235 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,176 psi | 34% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 20.1 gr | 80% | 35,288 psi | 57% | 3074 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,705 psi | 80% | 3373 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,019 psi | 71% | 3287 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,657 psi | 72% | 3241 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,141 psi | 53% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,365 psi | 66% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 46% | 2917 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 23 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 40gr | Nosler Varmageddon. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,543 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,205 fps to 3,543 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 of the 23 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 47–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-10x, 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, ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 40gr | Nosler Varmageddon 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.