Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 62gr | Sierra GameKing 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 H335, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and Shooters World AR Plus.
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% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 2887 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2920 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,506 psi | 89% | 2966 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,118 psi | 66% | 2772 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,299 psi | 81% | 2933 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,299 psi | 81% | 2933 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,127 psi | 85% | 2844 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,621 psi | 86% | 2854 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,362 psi | 90% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2995 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,950 psi | 78% | 2940 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,447 psi | 87% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2881 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmarkᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H322ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2995 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,868 psi | 88% | 2986 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,111 psi | 51% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,858 psi | 67% | 2825 fps | 97.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,810 psi | 88% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,303 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,185 psi | 85% | 2943 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2972 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,238 psi | 74% | 2864 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 2936 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,369 psi | 76% | 2864 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,213 psi | 52% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,217 psi | 90% | 2986 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,822 psi | 83% | 2910 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,185 psi | 85% | 2943 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,238 psi | 74% | 2864 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,434 psi | 89% | 2992 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,926 psi | 88% | 2966 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,416 psi | 82% | 2841 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,104 psi | 66% | 2671 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 2963 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,588 psi | 80% | 2831 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,593 psi | 89% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2890 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,386 psi | 81% | 2844 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,235 psi | 68% | 2789 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,295 psi | 73% | 2799 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,999 psi | 90% | 3035 fps | 97% |
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% | 43,468 psi | 70% | 2684 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,937 psi | 51% | 2510 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,424 psi | 68% | 2749 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,357 psi | 50% | 2559 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,221 psi | 69% | 2808 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,221 psi | 69% | 2808 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,985 psi | 59% | 2543 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,759 psi | 72% | 2700 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,609 psi | 62% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,363 psi | 63% | 2713 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,369 psi | 44% | 2454 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,460 psi | 52% | 2539 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,335 psi | 65% | 2664 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 56% | 2516 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,371 psi | 79% | 2828 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,347 psi | 60% | 2667 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 23.1 gr | 86% | 41,133 psi | 66% | 2746 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,189 psi | 61% | 2585 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,438 psi | 38% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,679 psi | 56% | 2661 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,389 psi | 55% | 2552 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,788 psi | 73% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,759 psi | 73% | 2818 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,443 psi | 78% | 2851 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,221 psi | 69% | 2808 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 73% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,912 psi | 59% | 2628 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,018 psi | 67% | 2766 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,641 psi | 38% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,050 psi | 74% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,195 psi | 74% | 2818 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,366 psi | 70% | 2759 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 22.7 gr | 86% | 45,759 psi | 73% | 2818 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,221 psi | 69% | 2808 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,771 psi | 67% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 22.6 gr | 86% | 42,308 psi | 68% | 2762 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,143 psi | 56% | 2595 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,540 psi | 68% | 2684 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,435 psi | 62% | 2618 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,908 psi | 80% | 2897 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,885 psi | 62% | 2635 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,620 psi | 84% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,769 psi | 62% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,096 psi | 50% | 2451 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,547 psi | 52% | 2493 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,561 psi | 52% | 2572 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,697 psi | 64% | 2690 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,501 psi | 78% | 2910 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 48 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 62gr | Sierra GameKing. Winchester 748 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,035 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,801 fps to 3,035 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 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 62.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.5 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. Hodgdon H335, SNPE Vectan SP 10, Shooters World AR Plus rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 62gr | Sierra GameKing 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.