Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 45gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet and 29 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7 and ReloadSwiss RS 36.
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% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 3251 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 3238 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,085 psi | 88% | 3284 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,622 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,695 psi | 89% | 3209 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 3379 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,911 psi | 88% | 3392 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 63% | 3123 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,733 psi | 78% | 3284 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,157 psi | 87% | 3320 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 3274 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,680 psi | 89% | 3304 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,371 psi | 49% | 2093 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,763 psi | 81% | 3287 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 3314 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 3369 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 3337 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,534 psi | 86% | 3264 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 3392 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,660 psi | 48% | 2129 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,492 psi | 89% | 3343 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 3337 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 3369 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 3268 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,256 psi | 81% | 3291 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,056 psi | 88% | 3327 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,340 psi | 76% | 3179 fps | 97.3% |
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>> | 82% | 38,551 psi | 62% | 2956 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,343 psi | 81% | 3182 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,706 psi | 83% | 3228 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,417 psi | 86% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,630 psi | 75% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 19 gr | 80% | 30,850 psi | 49% | 2867 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,416 psi | 82% | 3327 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,550 psi | 59% | 3058 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,422 psi | 65% | 3114 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 20.7 gr | 84% | 37,347 psi | 60% | 2979 fps | 95.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,110 psi | 79% | 3156 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,286 psi | 84% | 3245 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,263 psi | 36% | 1880 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,984 psi | 58% | 2963 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,276 psi | 61% | 2976 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 74% | 3186 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,214 psi | 84% | 3268 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,753 psi | 61% | 2963 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,375 psi | 57% | 2979 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,814 psi | 35% | 1916 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.8 gr | 80% | 37,782 psi | 61% | 2995 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,214 psi | 84% | 3268 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 74% | 3186 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,891 psi | 75% | 3143 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 56% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,007 psi | 75% | 3232 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 70% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,082 psi | 50% | 2844 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,972 psi | 62% | 3009 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 40 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 45gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,392 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,093 fps to 3,392 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 1:11.0 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. ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, ReloadSwiss RS 36 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 45gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos 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.