Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 45gr | Fox Classic Hunter 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, Alliant Reloder-7 and ADI AR 2207.
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>> | 92% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 3238 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 3225 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,056 psi | 88% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 3366 fps | 100% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,566 psi | 62% | 3107 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,167 psi | 77% | 3271 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 3304 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 3251 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,385 psi | 49% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,241 psi | 81% | 3271 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,824 psi | 88% | 3297 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 3350 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 3320 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 3366 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,631 psi | 48% | 2126 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,230 psi | 87% | 3317 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 3320 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 3350 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 3251 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,434 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 3219 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 3314 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,238 psi | 74% | 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% | 40,582 psi | 65% | 2995 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,951 psi | 80% | 3166 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,977 psi | 74% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 18.8 gr | 80% | 30,676 psi | 49% | 2858 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,129 psi | 58% | 3041 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,334 psi | 63% | 3084 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 20.4 gr | 84% | 36,767 psi | 59% | 2959 fps | 95% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,182 psi | 77% | 3133 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,176 psi | 36% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,333 psi | 60% | 2992 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,159 psi | 61% | 2969 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,311 psi | 74% | 3176 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,590 psi | 83% | 3251 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,072 psi | 59% | 2946 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,246 psi | 60% | 3022 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,712 psi | 35% | 1909 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.5 gr | 80% | 37,115 psi | 60% | 2976 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,590 psi | 83% | 3251 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,311 psi | 74% | 3176 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,325 psi | 74% | 3127 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,780 psi | 56% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,555 psi | 70% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,864 psi | 49% | 2835 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,104 psi | 66% | 3051 fps | 95.6% |
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 | Fox Classic Hunter. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,366 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,087 fps to 3,366 fps. Alliant AR-Comp 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 48–90 %, 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. Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, Baschieri & Pellagri 106 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, Alliant Reloder-7, ADI AR 2207 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 45gr | Fox Classic Hunter 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.