Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 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, Norma 200 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>> | 92% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,309 psi | 71% | 3025 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,564 psi | 89% | 2470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 3209 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,011 psi | 85% | 3222 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,625 psi | 65% | 3038 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,285 psi | 82% | 3189 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,113 psi | 85% | 3159 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 3114 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H322ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,850 psi | 82% | 3182 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,346 psi | 87% | 3140 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,676 psi | 49% | 1978 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,924 psi | 85% | 3179 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 3192 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,549 psi | 87% | 3225 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,560 psi | 49% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,230 psi | 87% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 3192 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,985 psi | 90% | 3153 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 3186 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,969 psi | 88% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,940 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,110 psi | 79% | 3077 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,511 psi | 68% | 2949 fps | 95.8% |
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>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 60% | 2802 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,350 psi | 66% | 2966 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,122 psi | 74% | 2969 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,269 psi | 77% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 18.4 gr | 80% | 32,372 psi | 52% | 2776 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,501 psi | 79% | 3159 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 33,721 psi | 54% | 2861 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,143 psi | 56% | 2854 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 19.1 gr | 80% | 34,345 psi | 55% | 2776 fps | 95.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,672 psi | 72% | 2943 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,558 psi | 76% | 3123 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,385 psi | 78% | 3035 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,278 psi | 36% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,402 psi | 54% | 2762 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,277 psi | 65% | 2887 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,979 psi | 77% | 3071 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,204 psi | 63% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | 19.8 gr | 82% | 32,837 psi | 53% | 2779 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,350 psi | 36% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,494 psi | 63% | 2900 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,979 psi | 77% | 3071 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,081 psi | 79% | 3038 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 59% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,192 psi | 69% | 3018 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,861 psi | 74% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,590 psi | 52% | 2749 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,172 psi | 58% | 2815 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,798 psi | 64% | 2894 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 29 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,225 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,978 fps to 3,225 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 29 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x 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, Norma 200, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 50gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint 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.