Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint bullet and 37 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 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>> | 90% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,732 psi | 77% | 2976 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2460ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 3081 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 3022 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 3028 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 3087 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,011 psi | 85% | 3107 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,324 psi | 71% | 3005 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 3127 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 3045 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 3005 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H322ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,462 psi | 87% | 3130 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,362 psi | 90% | 3150 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 3028 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,444 psi | 50% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,669 psi | 67% | 2953 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 3107 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,463 psi | 89% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 3114 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,908 psi | 50% | 1936 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 3107 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 3048 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,666 psi | 89% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 3110 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 3130 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,824 psi | 88% | 2920 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,402 psi | 84% | 3015 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,469 psi | 73% | 2897 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,521 psi | 60% | 2825 fps | 95.9% |
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% | 39,726 psi | 64% | 2746 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,854 psi | 59% | 2756 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,285 psi | 81% | 3022 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,410 psi | 70% | 2808 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,879 psi | 80% | 2923 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,868 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,517 psi | 81% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 56% | 2730 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.8 gr | 90% | 43,381 psi | 70% | 2930 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 2654 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,373 psi | 54% | 2697 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,593 psi | 59% | 2720 fps | 97.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,003 psi | 67% | 2789 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,250 psi | 68% | 2904 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,209 psi | 74% | 2976 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,889 psi | 72% | 2858 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,872 psi | 37% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,537 psi | 63% | 2904 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,328 psi | 50% | 2602 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,569 psi | 68% | 2815 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,908 psi | 82% | 3002 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,010 psi | 82% | 3048 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 66% | 2779 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | 19.2 gr | 80% | 33,011 psi | 53% | 2674 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,539 psi | 36% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,959 psi | 67% | 2835 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,010 psi | 82% | 3048 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,908 psi | 82% | 3002 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,750 psi | 83% | 2963 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 62% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 24.1 gr | 92% | 46,804 psi | 75% | 2986 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,973 psi | 66% | 2861 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,341 psi | 78% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,389 psi | 57% | 2700 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,360 psi | 55% | 2661 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,753 psi | 61% | 2743 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,578 psi | 57% | 2776 fps | 95.1% |
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 37 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint. Hodgdon H335 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,150 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,900 fps to 3,150 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 37 of the 37 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 1:10.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2460, 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 2219, SNPE Vectan SP 10, Norma 200 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 55gr | 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.