Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 53gr | Winchester Hollow Point bullet and 28 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 Norma 200.
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% | 54,143 psi | 87% | 3012 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,163 psi | 68% | 2887 fps | 96% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 97% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,738 psi | 89% | 3031 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,753 psi | 89% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 3123 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 3136 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,870 psi | 62% | 2897 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,820 psi | 78% | 3041 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 3064 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,608 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,289 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,647 psi | 49% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,836 psi | 82% | 3035 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,838 psi | 86% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,927 psi | 90% | 3140 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,008 psi | 48% | 1926 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,564 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 3018 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,998 psi | 87% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,748 psi | 80% | 3038 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,200 psi | 85% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,905 psi | 75% | 2933 fps | 97.9% |
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>> | 80% | 35,969 psi | 58% | 2671 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,146 psi | 63% | 2825 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,456 psi | 76% | 2890 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,924 psi | 83% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,737 psi | 86% | 2333 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 75% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 17 gr | 80% | 31,125 psi | 50% | 2651 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,761 psi | 77% | 3022 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,171 psi | 55% | 2779 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,462 psi | 57% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 18.1 gr | 82% | 35,331 psi | 57% | 2703 fps | 95.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,556 psi | 73% | 2864 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,632 psi | 80% | 2949 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,118 psi | 35% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,287 psi | 55% | 2690 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 62% | 2753 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,688 psi | 75% | 2933 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,710 psi | 60% | 2720 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 200 | 18.7 gr | 84% | 33,359 psi | 53% | 2703 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,220 psi | 36% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,913 psi | 61% | 2766 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,688 psi | 75% | 2933 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,297 psi | 76% | 2900 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,143 psi | 56% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,396 psi | 71% | 2940 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,367 psi | 71% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,357 psi | 50% | 2628 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,782 psi | 59% | 2733 fps | 95.3% |
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 28 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 53gr | Winchester Hollow Point. Norma 200 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,140 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,890 fps to 3,140 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 28 of the 28 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 53.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:7.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, ADI AR 2219, 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. ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, Norma 200 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 53gr | Winchester Hollow Point 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.