Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon 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 ADI AR 2207.
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% | 55,317 psi | 89% | 3022 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,095 psi | 77% | 2982 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2460ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 3087 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,362 psi | 90% | 3031 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2372 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,940 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,345 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,005 psi | 71% | 3002 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,258 psi | 85% | 3041 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 3009 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H322ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 3140 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,968 psi | 85% | 3097 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 3025 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,314 psi | 50% | 1900 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,959 psi | 67% | 2959 fps | 96% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 3068 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,172 psi | 88% | 3110 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,285 psi | 50% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,215 psi | 87% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,549 psi | 87% | 3100 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 3117 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 3117 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 3136 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,034 psi | 72% | 2887 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,462 psi | 87% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,721 psi | 85% | 3018 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,788 psi | 73% | 2907 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,782 psi | 61% | 2831 fps | 96% |
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% | 39,987 psi | 64% | 2753 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,159 psi | 60% | 2766 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,546 psi | 81% | 3028 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,944 psi | 66% | 2762 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,588 psi | 80% | 2923 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,607 psi | 88% | 2349 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,894 psi | 82% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 18.4 gr | 80% | 35,012 psi | 56% | 2726 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.9 gr | 90% | 43,656 psi | 70% | 2936 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,269 psi | 49% | 2664 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,170 psi | 53% | 2694 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,869 psi | 59% | 2726 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,756 psi | 67% | 2785 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,482 psi | 68% | 2913 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,485 psi | 75% | 2986 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,165 psi | 72% | 2864 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,800 psi | 37% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,247 psi | 63% | 2900 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,575 psi | 51% | 2608 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 68% | 2812 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,647 psi | 81% | 2999 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,256 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,800 psi | 67% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,286 psi | 53% | 2680 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,902 psi | 37% | 1742 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,279 psi | 68% | 2841 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,082 psi | 82% | 3041 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,256 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,647 psi | 81% | 2999 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,112 psi | 84% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,783 psi | 62% | 2595 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 24.2 gr | 92% | 47,123 psi | 76% | 2992 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,609 psi | 62% | 2808 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,279 psi | 68% | 2835 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,762 psi | 78% | 2835 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,201 psi | 56% | 2697 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,142 psi | 55% | 2657 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,029 psi | 61% | 2749 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,302 psi | 57% | 2769 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 62 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,182 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,900 fps to 3,182 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 62 of the 62 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, 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, ADI AR 2207 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2230, Accurate 2520, ADI Benchmark 8208 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.