Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 69gr | Barnes Match Burner BT bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2219, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and ReloadSwiss RS 40.
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% | 54,665 psi | 88% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,389 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,352 psi | 70% | 2674 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 2848 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,248 psi | 65% | 2635 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,969 psi | 88% | 2723 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,259 psi | 89% | 2772 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2822 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,068 psi | 82% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,143 psi | 88% | 2913 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,825 psi | 90% | 2825 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,318 psi | 90% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,925 psi | 86% | 2717 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,375 psi | 87% | 2766 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,721 psi | 83% | 2822 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2841 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,011 psi | 85% | 2812 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,780 psi | 86% | 2726 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,735 psi | 52% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,602 psi | 78% | 2805 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 2687 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,317 psi | 87% | 2808 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2831 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2805 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,269 psi | 77% | 2759 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2680 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,472 psi | 79% | 2759 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,358 psi | 52% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2815 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2831 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,269 psi | 77% | 2759 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 2782 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2825 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2792 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,084 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,583 psi | 68% | 2566 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2851 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,547 psi | 83% | 2720 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,837 psi | 85% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,170 psi | 84% | 2723 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,106 psi | 71% | 2680 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,659 psi | 75% | 2684 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,666 psi | 89% | 2818 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,310 psi | 73% | 2674 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,997 psi | 85% | 2844 fps | 97.3% |
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% | 44,715 psi | 72% | 2566 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 47% | 2320 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,493 psi | 62% | 2533 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,689 psi | 46% | 2362 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,350 psi | 66% | 2628 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,404 psi | 57% | 2533 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,247 psi | 61% | 2441 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,770 psi | 65% | 2487 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,030 psi | 64% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 19.5 gr | 80% | 35,679 psi | 57% | 2497 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,182 psi | 77% | 2710 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,079 psi | 43% | 2323 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,358 psi | 82% | 2851 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,808 psi | 54% | 2438 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 67% | 2549 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,390 psi | 58% | 2418 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,310 psi | 73% | 2618 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,976 psi | 72% | 2707 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,664 psi | 56% | 2474 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,768 psi | 61% | 2543 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,148 psi | 68% | 2530 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,105 psi | 39% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,359 psi | 53% | 2497 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,375 psi | 57% | 2438 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,718 psi | 77% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,182 psi | 77% | 2710 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,205 psi | 66% | 2595 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,266 psi | 71% | 2641 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,814 psi | 67% | 2644 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,412 psi | 74% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,493 psi | 62% | 2523 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,609 psi | 62% | 2559 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,902 psi | 38% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,732 psi | 77% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | 21.2 gr | 88% | 42,322 psi | 68% | 2608 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,147 psi | 64% | 2559 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,205 psi | 66% | 2595 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,814 psi | 67% | 2644 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,040 psi | 83% | 2726 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 69% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 20.7 gr | 82% | 38,725 psi | 62% | 2552 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,577 psi | 55% | 2448 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,088 psi | 63% | 2484 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,563 psi | 57% | 2428 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,818 psi | 73% | 2690 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,607 psi | 57% | 2431 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,176 psi | 64% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,750 psi | 53% | 2362 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,095 psi | 48% | 2306 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 2382 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,492 psi | 59% | 2493 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,356 psi | 78% | 2707 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,595 psi | 63% | 2569 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,253 psi | 74% | 2733 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 54 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 69gr | Barnes Match Burner BT. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,913 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,699 fps to 2,913 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 54 of the 54 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 69.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.5 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. ADI AR 2219, SNPE Vectan SP 10, ReloadSwiss RS 40 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 69gr | Barnes Match Burner BT 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.