Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 45gr | AERO SB,- smax:9.00 bullet and 26 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% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 3297 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,622 psi | 89% | 3274 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 3271 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,824 psi | 88% | 3199 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,069 psi | 85% | 3350 fps | 100% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,405 psi | 60% | 3084 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,789 psi | 75% | 3251 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,997 psi | 85% | 3304 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 3251 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,660 psi | 48% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,908 psi | 80% | 3271 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 3301 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 3343 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 3314 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 3294 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 3360 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,341 psi | 47% | 2129 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 3317 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 3314 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 3343 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,446 psi | 84% | 3245 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,448 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,925 psi | 86% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,171 psi | 85% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,614 psi | 73% | 3153 fps | 96.9% |
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% | 39,523 psi | 63% | 2982 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,458 psi | 79% | 3166 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,618 psi | 81% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,040 psi | 85% | 2569 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,078 psi | 72% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 18.9 gr | 80% | 29,646 psi | 48% | 2838 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,433 psi | 57% | 3031 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,653 psi | 62% | 3074 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 21 gr | 86% | 38,043 psi | 61% | 3005 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,659 psi | 76% | 3130 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,524 psi | 35% | 1867 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,883 psi | 59% | 2989 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 60% | 2959 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 73% | 3169 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,285 psi | 82% | 3255 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,129 psi | 58% | 2933 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,723 psi | 57% | 2995 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,987 psi | 34% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.7 gr | 80% | 36,637 psi | 59% | 2976 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,285 psi | 82% | 3255 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,527 psi | 73% | 3169 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,992 psi | 74% | 3127 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 54% | 2769 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,525 psi | 68% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 48% | 2818 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,885 psi | 64% | 3031 fps | 95.3% |
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 26 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 45gr | AERO SB,- smax:9.00. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,360 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,080 fps to 3,360 fps. Accurate LT-30 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 26 of the 26 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. The 45.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate LT-30, 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 .224 | 45gr | AERO SB,- smax:9.00 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.