Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 68gr | Hornady Match 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, 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>> | 88% | 56,289 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2825 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,031 psi | 66% | 2644 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,996 psi | 83% | 2812 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,577 psi | 86% | 2707 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 2717 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,663 psi | 84% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,897 psi | 88% | 2851 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,776 psi | 78% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,753 psi | 89% | 2930 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,926 psi | 88% | 2736 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmarkᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2782 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,690 psi | 80% | 2792 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,634 psi | 84% | 2815 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,216 psi | 89% | 2753 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,937 psi | 51% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,441 psi | 74% | 2776 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,940 psi | 88% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,997 psi | 85% | 2802 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,246 psi | 90% | 2835 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 74% | 2730 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 2667 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2789 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,398 psi | 76% | 2730 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,111 psi | 51% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,114 psi | 88% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,420 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,576 psi | 83% | 2766 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,997 psi | 85% | 2802 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 74% | 2730 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 2854 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 2818 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,024 psi | 82% | 2697 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,828 psi | 65% | 2539 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 2818 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,603 psi | 80% | 2697 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,376 psi | 89% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,692 psi | 84% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,244 psi | 87% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,038 psi | 80% | 2700 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,974 psi | 67% | 2651 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,701 psi | 72% | 2657 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,794 psi | 85% | 2779 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,526 psi | 70% | 2648 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 2818 fps | 96.5% |
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% | 43,323 psi | 69% | 2546 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,892 psi | 48% | 2336 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,148 psi | 68% | 2615 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,964 psi | 46% | 2382 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,337 psi | 68% | 2651 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,927 psi | 59% | 2418 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,221 psi | 68% | 2520 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,885 psi | 62% | 2530 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,825 psi | 59% | 2530 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,933 psi | 42% | 2293 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,692 psi | 84% | 2881 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,285 psi | 52% | 2411 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,321 psi | 65% | 2530 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,230 psi | 56% | 2398 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,499 psi | 75% | 2644 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,325 psi | 74% | 2740 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 19.3 gr | 84% | 35,824 psi | 57% | 2507 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,350 psi | 66% | 2621 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,698 psi | 65% | 2507 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,728 psi | 38% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,924 psi | 54% | 2516 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,432 psi | 55% | 2425 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,934 psi | 74% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | 20.7 gr | 84% | 42,627 psi | 68% | 2628 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,353 psi | 73% | 2667 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,859 psi | 69% | 2674 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 73% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 59% | 2500 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,914 psi | 62% | 2575 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,525 psi | 38% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 74% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,337 psi | 69% | 2635 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,872 psi | 66% | 2579 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 20.7 gr | 84% | 42,627 psi | 68% | 2628 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,859 psi | 69% | 2674 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,800 psi | 67% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,508 psi | 63% | 2575 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,127 psi | 53% | 2421 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,972 psi | 64% | 2507 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,434 psi | 58% | 2451 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,821 psi | 80% | 2762 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,230 psi | 58% | 2454 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,228 psi | 84% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,044 psi | 63% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,386 psi | 50% | 2339 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,980 psi | 50% | 2336 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,908 psi | 50% | 2411 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,318 psi | 60% | 2516 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,864 psi | 80% | 2733 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,625 psi | 65% | 2595 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,616 psi | 76% | 2759 fps | 95.6% |
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 75 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 68gr | Hornady Match. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,930 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,686 fps to 2,930 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 75 of the 75 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 68.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 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 H322, Shooters World AR Plus, Lovex D073.4 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 68gr | Hornady Match they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, ADI AR 2206H burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.