Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 63gr | Sierra VarmintKing bullet and 51 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H322, ADI AR 2219 and SNPE Vectan SP 10.
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% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 2838 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,505 psi | 87% | 2923 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2927 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,931 psi | 69% | 2792 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2976 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,201 psi | 87% | 2848 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2858 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,591 psi | 84% | 2943 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 2930 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,865 psi | 82% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2949 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,362 psi | 90% | 2913 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,968 psi | 85% | 2831 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2884 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,271 psi | 82% | 2943 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2976 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,014 psi | 90% | 2989 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2858 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,184 psi | 52% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,399 psi | 78% | 2933 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 2930 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,055 psi | 85% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 2930 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2953 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 2923 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,080 psi | 77% | 2881 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,984 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,390 psi | 89% | 2940 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,182 psi | 79% | 2881 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,285 psi | 52% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,055 psi | 85% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2946 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,069 psi | 85% | 2917 fps | 98% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2953 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,080 psi | 77% | 2881 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,564 psi | 89% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,722 psi | 86% | 2953 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,260 psi | 90% | 2966 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,475 psi | 84% | 2844 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,018 psi | 67% | 2677 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2979 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,285 psi | 82% | 2848 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2851 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,985 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,488 psi | 83% | 2844 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,468 psi | 70% | 2792 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,282 psi | 74% | 2805 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 2936 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,730 psi | 72% | 2785 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,736 psi | 85% | 2972 fps | 96.7% |
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% | 44,483 psi | 71% | 2687 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,821 psi | 49% | 2464 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,785 psi | 65% | 2700 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,284 psi | 49% | 2516 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,947 psi | 70% | 2799 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,927 psi | 61% | 2556 fps | 96% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,960 psi | 69% | 2654 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,813 psi | 64% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 21.2 gr | 82% | 37,840 psi | 61% | 2664 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,531 psi | 81% | 2874 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,426 psi | 42% | 2411 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 54% | 2552 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,886 psi | 66% | 2661 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,998 psi | 58% | 2523 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,326 psi | 76% | 2779 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,037 psi | 77% | 2887 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 21 gr | 84% | 36,854 psi | 59% | 2644 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,030 psi | 64% | 2710 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,829 psi | 67% | 2651 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,598 psi | 38% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,751 psi | 56% | 2648 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,911 psi | 56% | 2549 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,050 psi | 75% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,531 psi | 81% | 2874 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,903 psi | 70% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,036 psi | 75% | 2815 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,353 psi | 71% | 2818 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,876 psi | 74% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 61% | 2638 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,408 psi | 65% | 2720 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,830 psi | 38% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,210 psi | 76% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,338 psi | 71% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,742 psi | 67% | 2713 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,903 psi | 70% | 2769 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,353 psi | 71% | 2818 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,409 psi | 68% | 2487 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 22.4 gr | 84% | 40,683 psi | 65% | 2717 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,852 psi | 54% | 2549 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2641 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,333 psi | 60% | 2582 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 51,648 psi | 83% | 2913 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,463 psi | 60% | 2592 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 64% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,068 psi | 51% | 2461 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,778 psi | 51% | 2461 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,836 psi | 51% | 2543 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,101 psi | 61% | 2644 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,474 psi | 83% | 2884 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,945 psi | 67% | 2733 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,805 psi | 78% | 2904 fps | 95.7% |
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 51 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 63gr | Sierra VarmintKing. Hodgdon H335 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,989 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,791 fps to 2,989 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 51 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 63.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:12.0 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, ADI AR 2219, SNPE Vectan SP 10 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 63gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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.