Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 55gr | Hornady 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, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and Hodgdon H335.
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>> | 88% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,140 psi | 82% | 3051 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,345 psi | 86% | 3097 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,841 psi | 62% | 2881 fps | 97% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,592 psi | 88% | 3031 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,071 psi | 88% | 3038 fps | 96.8% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,840 psi | 90% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,750 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,789 psi | 75% | 3071 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 3136 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,912 psi | 90% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 3015 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 3146 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 3173 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,272 psi | 85% | 3031 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,589 psi | 51% | 1923 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,599 psi | 72% | 3038 fps | 97.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,434 psi | 90% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 3127 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,737 psi | 88% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,071 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,560 psi | 51% | 1969 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,433 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 96.3% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,879 psi | 80% | 3035 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 3127 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 2858 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,621 psi | 86% | 3127 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,545 psi | 79% | 2966 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,616 psi | 76% | 2953 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,896 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,738 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,573 psi | 78% | 2972 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,422 psi | 65% | 2904 fps | 97.2% |
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% | 41,727 psi | 67% | 2805 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,708 psi | 56% | 2723 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,905 psi | 75% | 2982 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,866 psi | 54% | 2766 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,118 psi | 64% | 2762 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,762 psi | 78% | 2930 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,431 psi | 84% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 60% | 2795 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 23.5 gr | 88% | 42,989 psi | 69% | 2943 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,805 psi | 48% | 2667 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,967 psi | 53% | 2700 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,464 psi | 62% | 2779 fps | 98% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,696 psi | 62% | 2740 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,887 psi | 67% | 2920 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 25.4 gr | 92% | 45,440 psi | 73% | 2982 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,222 psi | 71% | 2867 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,380 psi | 37% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,189 psi | 63% | 2917 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 53% | 2671 fps | 96.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,744 psi | 72% | 2874 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 3061 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,952 psi | 82% | 3071 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,685 psi | 70% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,360 psi | 57% | 2749 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,047 psi | 37% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2890 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,502 psi | 81% | 3054 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,934 psi | 75% | 2986 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 50,952 psi | 82% | 3071 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 3061 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,277 psi | 65% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 24.9 gr | 90% | 46,775 psi | 75% | 3005 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,479 psi | 62% | 2825 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,499 psi | 75% | 2910 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,105 psi | 68% | 2848 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,415 psi | 81% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 60% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,053 psi | 51% | 2618 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,360 psi | 57% | 2707 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,476 psi | 57% | 2792 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 67 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,205 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,923 fps to 3,205 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2495, Accurate 2520 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, SNPE Vectan SP 10, Hodgdon H335 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, Accurate 4064 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.