Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon HP 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% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 3009 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,922 psi | 80% | 3025 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 3084 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,290 psi | 61% | 2864 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 3018 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,129 psi | 88% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,953 psi | 85% | 3074 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 3169 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,282 psi | 74% | 3058 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,896 psi | 86% | 3123 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,288 psi | 89% | 3084 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,721 psi | 85% | 2992 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 3133 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 3150 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 3071 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,604 psi | 51% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,077 psi | 71% | 3018 fps | 96.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,085 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,405 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,809 psi | 86% | 3110 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,433 psi | 87% | 3110 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,589 psi | 51% | 1965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,680 psi | 89% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 3094 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,776 psi | 78% | 3012 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,809 psi | 86% | 3110 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 3100 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,533 psi | 84% | 3100 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,390 psi | 89% | 3136 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,530 psi | 78% | 2943 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,152 psi | 76% | 2940 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 52,968 psi | 85% | 2907 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 3025 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 3061 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,456 psi | 76% | 2949 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,436 psi | 63% | 2877 fps | 96.8% |
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% | 41,176 psi | 66% | 2789 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,492 psi | 59% | 2762 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,832 psi | 73% | 2959 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,723 psi | 57% | 2808 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,134 psi | 68% | 2799 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,240 psi | 77% | 2913 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,779 psi | 83% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 59% | 2776 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 23.2 gr | 88% | 42,467 psi | 68% | 2927 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,370 psi | 47% | 2648 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,387 psi | 52% | 2680 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,334 psi | 61% | 2772 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,611 psi | 65% | 2776 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,150 psi | 71% | 2963 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 25.1 gr | 92% | 45,020 psi | 72% | 2969 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,642 psi | 70% | 2848 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,293 psi | 37% | 1719 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,711 psi | 62% | 2900 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,518 psi | 52% | 2648 fps | 96.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,976 psi | 71% | 2858 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,315 psi | 84% | 3041 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,734 psi | 80% | 3041 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,946 psi | 69% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,751 psi | 56% | 2730 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,960 psi | 37% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,830 psi | 70% | 2884 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,096 psi | 80% | 3041 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,441 psi | 74% | 2969 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,734 psi | 80% | 3041 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,315 psi | 84% | 3041 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,045 psi | 64% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 24.5 gr | 90% | 45,716 psi | 73% | 2982 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,884 psi | 61% | 2805 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,021 psi | 74% | 2897 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,626 psi | 67% | 2835 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,212 psi | 81% | 2867 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,782 psi | 59% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,591 psi | 54% | 2654 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,159 psi | 60% | 2746 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,983 psi | 56% | 2776 fps | 95.3% |
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 | Nosler Varmageddon HP. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,169 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,919 fps to 3,169 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 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:12.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2495, 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, Hodgdon H335 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Varmageddon HP 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.