Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 45gr | Frontier BTSP bullet and 29 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% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 3255 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 3245 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 3287 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,753 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,912 psi | 90% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,143 psi | 88% | 3383 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 3383 fps | 96% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,146 psi | 63% | 3127 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,878 psi | 78% | 3287 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 3323 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,593 psi | 89% | 3264 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 3307 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,429 psi | 49% | 2093 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,981 psi | 82% | 3291 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,753 psi | 89% | 3317 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 3363 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 3330 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 3396 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,704 psi | 48% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,955 psi | 88% | 3337 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 3330 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 3363 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 3271 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,763 psi | 80% | 3284 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 3228 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 3330 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,862 psi | 75% | 3173 fps | 97.2% |
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% | 41,234 psi | 66% | 3015 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,575 psi | 81% | 3186 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,822 psi | 83% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,166 psi | 74% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 19 gr | 80% | 30,922 psi | 50% | 2871 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,937 psi | 82% | 3320 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,666 psi | 59% | 3061 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,971 psi | 61% | 3058 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 20.6 gr | 84% | 36,970 psi | 59% | 2969 fps | 95.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,704 psi | 78% | 3150 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,475 psi | 84% | 3245 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,886 psi | 35% | 1867 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,607 psi | 57% | 2953 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 62% | 2982 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 75% | 3186 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,373 psi | 84% | 3271 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,376 psi | 60% | 2956 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,491 psi | 57% | 2979 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,857 psi | 35% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.8 gr | 80% | 37,855 psi | 61% | 2999 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,373 psi | 84% | 3271 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 75% | 3186 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,079 psi | 75% | 3146 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 56% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,630 psi | 75% | 3225 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 50% | 2848 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,088 psi | 63% | 3012 fps | 95.1% |
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 40 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 45gr | Frontier BTSP. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,396 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,093 fps to 3,396 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 40 of the 40 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. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2460, ADI AR 2219 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 | Frontier BTSP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2015, Accurate 2460, Accurate LT-32 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.