Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 48 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H322, Shooters World AR Plus and Lovex D073.4.
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>> | 86% | 53,316 psi | 85% | 2900 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2979 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,721 psi | 85% | 2976 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,018 psi | 67% | 2838 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,272 psi | 85% | 3022 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,766 psi | 86% | 2907 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,201 psi | 87% | 2917 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2966 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 3064 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,908 psi | 80% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,085 psi | 87% | 3012 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 2943 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmarkᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 2989 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,882 psi | 86% | 3031 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 3051 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,753 psi | 89% | 2959 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,155 psi | 52% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,514 psi | 76% | 2986 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,622 psi | 89% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,534 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2979 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,949 psi | 75% | 2927 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,230 psi | 87% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2999 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,240 psi | 77% | 2930 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,213 psi | 52% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,243 psi | 84% | 2969 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,534 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,949 psi | 75% | 2927 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,302 psi | 87% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 3058 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,579 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,750 psi | 83% | 2897 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,394 psi | 66% | 2723 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,578 psi | 88% | 3025 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,415 psi | 81% | 2897 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2963 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,763 psi | 81% | 2900 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,714 psi | 68% | 2844 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,469 psi | 73% | 2851 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,382 psi | 71% | 2841 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 3015 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% | 43,642 psi | 70% | 2740 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,300 psi | 52% | 2562 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,859 psi | 69% | 2805 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,865 psi | 51% | 2615 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,006 psi | 74% | 2897 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,376 psi | 60% | 2602 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,976 psi | 72% | 2756 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 63% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,479 psi | 63% | 2762 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,673 psi | 44% | 2507 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,996 psi | 53% | 2598 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 65% | 2723 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 57% | 2575 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,690 psi | 80% | 2884 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 21.9 gr | 86% | 38,464 psi | 62% | 2740 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,076 psi | 67% | 2812 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,220 psi | 66% | 2700 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,743 psi | 38% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,637 psi | 59% | 2756 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,534 psi | 55% | 2602 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 75% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | 23.5 gr | 86% | 46,311 psi | 74% | 2881 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,197 psi | 79% | 2913 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2871 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,426 psi | 73% | 2746 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,347 psi | 60% | 2687 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,453 psi | 68% | 2822 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,467 psi | 38% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,528 psi | 75% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,601 psi | 75% | 2877 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2818 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 23.5 gr | 86% | 46,311 psi | 74% | 2881 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2871 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,192 psi | 68% | 2552 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,294 psi | 69% | 2831 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,563 psi | 57% | 2651 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,105 psi | 69% | 2746 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,349 psi | 63% | 2680 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,227 psi | 82% | 2972 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,421 psi | 63% | 2690 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2785 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,334 psi | 63% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,575 psi | 51% | 2507 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,243 psi | 53% | 2559 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,156 psi | 53% | 2635 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,016 psi | 64% | 2746 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,698 psi | 67% | 2789 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,486 psi | 78% | 2959 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 48 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,064 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,847 fps to 3,064 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 48 of the 48 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 52–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:13.0 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. Hodgdon H322, Shooters World AR Plus, Lovex D073.4 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady 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.