Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 55gr | Norma FMJ bullet and 39 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% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 3005 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,705 psi | 80% | 3022 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2460ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 3133 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,116 psi | 61% | 2858 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 3018 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,579 psi | 89% | 3166 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,093 psi | 74% | 3051 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 3117 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,042 psi | 88% | 3081 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,562 psi | 84% | 2992 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,461 psi | 86% | 3130 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 3143 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 3068 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,763 psi | 51% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,903 psi | 70% | 3015 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,810 psi | 88% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,086 psi | 90% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,186 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,227 psi | 50% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,113 psi | 85% | 3091 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,588 psi | 78% | 3005 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 3107 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,405 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2844 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,420 psi | 90% | 3163 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,433 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,992 psi | 75% | 2936 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,246 psi | 90% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 3058 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,253 psi | 76% | 2943 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,175 psi | 63% | 2871 fps | 96.7% |
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% | 40,973 psi | 66% | 2785 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,260 psi | 58% | 2756 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,646 psi | 78% | 3009 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,534 psi | 57% | 2799 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,871 psi | 64% | 2749 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,022 psi | 77% | 2907 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,503 psi | 83% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 58% | 2766 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 23.1 gr | 88% | 42,264 psi | 68% | 2920 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,167 psi | 47% | 2641 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,561 psi | 52% | 2687 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,087 psi | 61% | 2766 fps | 97.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,422 psi | 65% | 2769 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2956 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 25 gr | 92% | 44,860 psi | 72% | 2966 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2854 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,960 psi | 37% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,537 psi | 62% | 2894 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,285 psi | 52% | 2638 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 70% | 2848 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,025 psi | 83% | 3038 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,530 psi | 79% | 3035 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 68% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,505 psi | 55% | 2720 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,076 psi | 37% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,540 psi | 70% | 2877 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,835 psi | 80% | 3031 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,238 psi | 74% | 2963 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,530 psi | 79% | 3035 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,025 psi | 83% | 3038 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,726 psi | 64% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 24.4 gr | 90% | 45,542 psi | 73% | 2972 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,666 psi | 60% | 2799 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,452 psi | 66% | 2828 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,864 psi | 80% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,506 psi | 59% | 2736 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,417 psi | 54% | 2648 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,956 psi | 59% | 2740 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,795 psi | 56% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
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 39 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Norma FMJ. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,166 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,919 fps to 3,166 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 39 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 1:12.0 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, SNPE Vectan SP 10, Hodgdon H335 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 55gr | Norma 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.