Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint bullet and 40 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2219, 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,333 psi | 90% | 3041 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,066 psi | 79% | 3005 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2460ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 3110 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,970 psi | 59% | 2831 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,287 psi | 85% | 2995 fps | 98% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,780 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,405 psi | 90% | 2382 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2913 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,506 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,288 psi | 87% | 3136 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,918 psi | 72% | 3025 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 3146 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 3061 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,434 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H322ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,796 psi | 89% | 3159 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 3120 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 3051 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,241 psi | 50% | 1903 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,830 psi | 69% | 2986 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 3136 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,333 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,212 psi | 50% | 1949 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,448 psi | 89% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,217 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 3136 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 3074 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,896 psi | 86% | 2831 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 3100 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,905 psi | 74% | 2910 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,506 psi | 89% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 3045 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,659 psi | 75% | 2927 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,682 psi | 62% | 2858 fps | 96.5% |
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% | 40,379 psi | 65% | 2766 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,665 psi | 57% | 2736 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,167 psi | 77% | 2995 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,374 psi | 55% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,872 psi | 67% | 2789 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,517 psi | 81% | 2946 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,911 psi | 88% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,401 psi | 82% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,650 psi | 57% | 2746 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.8 gr | 88% | 41,756 psi | 67% | 2904 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,066 psi | 47% | 2631 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,923 psi | 51% | 2664 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 19.4 gr | 80% | 37,405 psi | 60% | 2746 fps | 97.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,001 psi | 64% | 2756 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,859 psi | 69% | 2927 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,311 psi | 76% | 3005 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,337 psi | 69% | 2835 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,293 psi | 37% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,045 psi | 64% | 2923 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,082 psi | 51% | 2631 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,482 psi | 70% | 2838 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,227 psi | 82% | 3015 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,359 psi | 84% | 3081 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,438 psi | 68% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | 19.6 gr | 80% | 33,837 psi | 54% | 2700 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,960 psi | 37% | 1749 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,844 psi | 69% | 2858 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,938 psi | 83% | 3064 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,359 psi | 84% | 3081 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,227 psi | 82% | 3015 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,533 psi | 84% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,436 psi | 63% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,993 psi | 77% | 3015 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,566 psi | 63% | 2835 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,120 psi | 69% | 2854 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,559 psi | 79% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,766 psi | 57% | 2717 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,793 psi | 53% | 2631 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,434 psi | 58% | 2723 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,158 psi | 58% | 2795 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 40 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint. Hodgdon H322 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,159 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,903 fps to 3,159 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 50–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2460, Accurate 2495 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 2219, Norma 200, Alliant Reloder-7 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 55gr | Berger FB 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.