Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 46gr | Peregrine VLR-5 bullet and 27 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>> | 92% | 53,998 psi | 87% | 3228 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,969 psi | 87% | 3215 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,187 psi | 88% | 3255 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 3350 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 3356 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,189 psi | 63% | 3100 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,950 psi | 78% | 3261 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,447 psi | 87% | 3297 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,898 psi | 90% | 3241 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 3278 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,284 psi | 49% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 3261 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 3284 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3340 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,434 psi | 90% | 3278 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 3356 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,052 psi | 48% | 2113 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 3317 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3340 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,201 psi | 87% | 3241 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,879 psi | 80% | 3258 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 3199 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,963 psi | 75% | 3146 fps | 97.4% |
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% | 2927 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,589 psi | 81% | 3159 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,764 psi | 83% | 3199 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,505 psi | 86% | 2546 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,572 psi | 75% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 18.8 gr | 80% | 30,763 psi | 49% | 2838 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,126 psi | 82% | 3297 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,680 psi | 59% | 3038 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,913 psi | 61% | 3028 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 20.5 gr | 84% | 37,333 psi | 60% | 2953 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,878 psi | 78% | 3127 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,504 psi | 84% | 3219 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,104 psi | 35% | 1854 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,998 psi | 58% | 2936 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,218 psi | 61% | 2949 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,354 psi | 74% | 3153 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 60% | 2936 fps | 99.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,404 psi | 57% | 2953 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,654 psi | 35% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 19.6 gr | 80% | 37,739 psi | 61% | 2969 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,354 psi | 74% | 3153 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,021 psi | 75% | 3114 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,853 psi | 56% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,282 psi | 76% | 3209 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,280 psi | 71% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,995 psi | 50% | 2815 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,044 psi | 63% | 2982 fps | 95.2% |
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 42 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 46gr | Peregrine VLR-5. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,356 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,067 fps to 3,356 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 42 of the 42 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 46.0 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, ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 46gr | Peregrine VLR-5 they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2460, Accurate LT-32, Hodgdon CFE BLK 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.