Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 50gr | MEN FMJ 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,071 psi | 88% | 3097 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 3081 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 3077 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,072 psi | 59% | 2910 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,485 psi | 75% | 3071 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,564 psi | 89% | 3163 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,330 psi | 86% | 3061 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,226 psi | 48% | 1939 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,805 psi | 78% | 3071 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,243 psi | 85% | 3173 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,544 psi | 47% | 1975 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 3173 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,056 psi | 88% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,173 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,817 psi | 72% | 2966 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% | 39,740 psi | 64% | 2818 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 5744 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,703 psi | 76% | 3028 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,950 psi | 78% | 2982 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,951 psi | 80% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,374 psi | 86% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,947 psi | 72% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17 gr | 80% | 29,617 psi | 47% | 2677 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,027 psi | 56% | 2858 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,450 psi | 62% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 18.5 gr | 84% | 35,795 psi | 57% | 2782 fps | 95.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,644 psi | 75% | 2946 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,785 psi | 35% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,809 psi | 56% | 2769 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 60% | 2789 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 72% | 2976 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,542 psi | 73% | 2940 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,216 psi | 58% | 2762 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,056 psi | 58% | 2838 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,857 psi | 35% | 1778 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 17.7 gr | 80% | 36,318 psi | 58% | 2795 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,691 psi | 81% | 3058 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 72% | 2976 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,542 psi | 73% | 2940 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 54% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,656 psi | 68% | 2841 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 48% | 2654 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,943 psi | 64% | 2867 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 27 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 50gr | MEN FMJ. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,215 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,939 fps to 3,215 fps. Accurate LT-30 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 27 of the 27 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 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:7.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate LT-30, ADI AR 2207, Alliant AR-Comp 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 | 50gr | MEN FMJ 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.