Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 64gr | Nosler Bonded Performance 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% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2815 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2890 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,461 psi | 86% | 2897 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,583 psi | 68% | 2762 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2936 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,331 psi | 87% | 2825 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,824 psi | 88% | 2831 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,881 psi | 85% | 2923 fps | 99% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,430 psi | 81% | 2923 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,868 psi | 88% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2881 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,301 psi | 85% | 2812 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,185 psi | 85% | 2851 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,097 psi | 82% | 2913 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 2946 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2959 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2871 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 52% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,051 psi | 77% | 2904 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,866 psi | 85% | 2795 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,519 psi | 86% | 2900 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2920 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 2894 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,834 psi | 77% | 2854 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,766 psi | 88% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,791 psi | 78% | 2851 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,460 psi | 52% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,997 psi | 85% | 2828 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,099 psi | 87% | 2913 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,287 psi | 85% | 2894 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,012 psi | 87% | 2920 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,834 psi | 77% | 2854 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2641 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,417 psi | 86% | 2920 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,666 psi | 89% | 2933 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,736 psi | 85% | 2822 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,192 psi | 68% | 2657 fps | 97% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,868 psi | 88% | 2940 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,894 psi | 82% | 2815 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,085 psi | 87% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,764 psi | 83% | 2825 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,627 psi | 70% | 2772 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,934 psi | 74% | 2776 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 2910 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,498 psi | 71% | 2759 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,576 psi | 84% | 2943 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% | 43,903 psi | 70% | 2654 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,690 psi | 49% | 2441 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,408 psi | 65% | 2671 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,298 psi | 49% | 2497 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,685 psi | 70% | 2769 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,840 psi | 61% | 2530 fps | 96% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,960 psi | 69% | 2628 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 64% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 20.8 gr | 82% | 37,304 psi | 60% | 2631 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,241 psi | 81% | 2844 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,310 psi | 42% | 2388 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,402 psi | 54% | 2526 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,785 psi | 65% | 2631 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,013 psi | 58% | 2503 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,558 psi | 76% | 2759 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,747 psi | 77% | 2858 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 20.6 gr | 84% | 36,332 psi | 58% | 2608 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,639 psi | 64% | 2677 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 67% | 2625 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,627 psi | 38% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,737 psi | 56% | 2628 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,215 psi | 56% | 2533 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,804 psi | 75% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,241 psi | 81% | 2844 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,005 psi | 71% | 2749 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,659 psi | 75% | 2785 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,048 psi | 71% | 2785 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,253 psi | 74% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,898 psi | 61% | 2615 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,509 psi | 65% | 2697 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,844 psi | 38% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 75% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,498 psi | 71% | 2749 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,771 psi | 67% | 2690 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,005 psi | 71% | 2749 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,048 psi | 71% | 2785 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 68% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 22.1 gr | 84% | 40,770 psi | 65% | 2694 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,707 psi | 54% | 2523 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2618 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,970 psi | 59% | 2552 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,153 psi | 77% | 2831 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,478 psi | 60% | 2569 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,755 psi | 64% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,937 psi | 51% | 2438 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,285 psi | 50% | 2428 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,401 psi | 50% | 2510 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,247 psi | 61% | 2625 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,111 psi | 82% | 2854 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,713 psi | 67% | 2707 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,573 psi | 78% | 2874 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 | 64gr | Nosler Bonded Performance. Hodgdon H335 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,959 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,775 fps to 2,959 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 64.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.0 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 | 64gr | Nosler Bonded Performance 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.