Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 60gr | Hornady V-MAX bullet and 41 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are SNPE Vectan SP 10, ADI AR 2219 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% | 53,737 psi | 86% | 2881 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,748 psi | 80% | 2894 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,750 psi | 85% | 2953 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,782 psi | 61% | 2736 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,197 psi | 79% | 2930 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,201 psi | 87% | 2884 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,679 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,258 psi | 85% | 2940 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,253 psi | 74% | 2927 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2989 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,216 psi | 89% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,417 psi | 84% | 2864 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,158 psi | 88% | 3018 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,850 psi | 51% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,048 psi | 71% | 2894 fps | 97.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 2972 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,259 psi | 87% | 2861 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,343 psi | 50% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,837 psi | 85% | 2956 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,197 psi | 79% | 2890 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,214 psi | 85% | 2972 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,911 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,420 psi | 90% | 3031 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,911 psi | 88% | 2992 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,878 psi | 78% | 2822 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,601 psi | 75% | 2805 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,086 psi | 90% | 2808 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,287 psi | 85% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 2933 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,877 psi | 77% | 2831 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,755 psi | 64% | 2766 fps | 97.4% |
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% | 41,191 psi | 66% | 2667 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,200 psi | 55% | 2592 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,861 psi | 74% | 2838 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,054 psi | 53% | 2628 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,818 psi | 73% | 2871 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,929 psi | 64% | 2631 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,559 psi | 78% | 2792 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,735 psi | 83% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 59% | 2648 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 21.3 gr | 86% | 39,740 psi | 64% | 2746 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,789 psi | 45% | 2487 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 49% | 2520 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,884 psi | 61% | 2641 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,290 psi | 61% | 2608 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2769 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 23.6 gr | 92% | 45,107 psi | 72% | 2848 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,191 psi | 66% | 2674 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,496 psi | 38% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,377 psi | 62% | 2772 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,677 psi | 52% | 2533 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,743 psi | 70% | 2720 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,141 psi | 84% | 2900 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,647 psi | 80% | 2913 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,149 psi | 69% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,911 psi | 56% | 2615 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,192 psi | 37% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,381 psi | 70% | 2746 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,082 psi | 80% | 2913 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,700 psi | 70% | 2792 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,647 psi | 80% | 2913 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,141 psi | 84% | 2900 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 64% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 23 gr | 90% | 45,585 psi | 73% | 2854 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,797 psi | 61% | 2684 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,614 psi | 73% | 2766 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,365 psi | 66% | 2710 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,111 psi | 80% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,695 psi | 59% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,604 psi | 51% | 2490 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,012 psi | 56% | 2579 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,056 psi | 56% | 2661 fps | 95.9% |
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 41 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady V-MAX. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,038 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,814 fps to 3,038 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 41 of the 41 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 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. 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. SNPE Vectan SP 10, ADI AR 2219, Hodgdon H335 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady V-MAX 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.