Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 69gr | Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet and 53 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 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>> | 86% | 53,766 psi | 86% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2769 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,794 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,727 psi | 67% | 2641 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,359 psi | 86% | 2818 fps | 98% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,798 psi | 62% | 2598 fps | 96% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,041 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 2713 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,027 psi | 87% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,318 psi | 90% | 2854 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,577 psi | 86% | 2789 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,154 psi | 80% | 2802 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 2805 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,043 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 2740 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,881 psi | 85% | 2736 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,981 psi | 82% | 2799 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,201 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,794 psi | 85% | 2703 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,329 psi | 52% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,688 psi | 76% | 2785 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2717 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,577 psi | 86% | 2789 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2799 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2772 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,413 psi | 76% | 2736 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,926 psi | 88% | 2671 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,660 psi | 78% | 2736 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,518 psi | 52% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 52,707 psi | 85% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 2795 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 2772 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2799 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,413 psi | 76% | 2736 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 2762 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,071 psi | 88% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,287 psi | 85% | 2805 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,593 psi | 89% | 2812 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,272 psi | 84% | 2703 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,843 psi | 67% | 2546 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2825 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,067 psi | 80% | 2690 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,085 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,550 psi | 89% | 2756 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,271 psi | 82% | 2703 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,178 psi | 69% | 2657 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,905 psi | 74% | 2667 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,128 psi | 87% | 2785 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,657 psi | 72% | 2654 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,605 psi | 83% | 2815 fps | 96.8% |
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% | 43,845 psi | 70% | 2543 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,806 psi | 49% | 2346 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,393 psi | 65% | 2566 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,023 psi | 48% | 2392 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,538 psi | 65% | 2605 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,637 psi | 59% | 2556 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,362 psi | 60% | 2415 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,379 psi | 65% | 2474 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 63% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 19.1 gr | 80% | 34,780 psi | 56% | 2470 fps | 95% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,067 psi | 80% | 2733 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,339 psi | 42% | 2293 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,315 psi | 53% | 2421 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,843 psi | 65% | 2523 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,679 psi | 57% | 2395 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,949 psi | 75% | 2638 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,514 psi | 76% | 2746 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 19.4 gr | 84% | 36,274 psi | 58% | 2503 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,639 psi | 64% | 2575 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,191 psi | 66% | 2503 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,598 psi | 38% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,547 psi | 52% | 2470 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,896 psi | 56% | 2421 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,152 psi | 76% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,067 psi | 80% | 2733 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,250 psi | 69% | 2625 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,557 psi | 75% | 2674 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,944 psi | 66% | 2625 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,847 psi | 74% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 60% | 2497 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,811 psi | 61% | 2539 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,902 psi | 38% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,557 psi | 75% | 2612 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,830 psi | 70% | 2628 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,262 psi | 63% | 2533 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 20.8 gr | 84% | 43,250 psi | 69% | 2625 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,944 psi | 66% | 2625 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,271 psi | 82% | 2707 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,351 psi | 68% | 2352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,611 psi | 65% | 2585 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,634 psi | 54% | 2418 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,203 psi | 61% | 2461 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,867 psi | 56% | 2405 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,587 psi | 76% | 2713 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,809 psi | 56% | 2408 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 64% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 51% | 2336 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,430 psi | 50% | 2336 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,689 psi | 48% | 2369 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,826 psi | 61% | 2513 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,328 psi | 81% | 2730 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,943 psi | 62% | 2549 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,600 psi | 73% | 2713 fps | 95.4% |
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 53 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 69gr | Sierra Tipped MatchKing. ADI AR 2219 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,854 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,686 fps to 2,854 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 53 of the 53 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 1:9.0 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, Shooters World AR Plus rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 69gr | Sierra Tipped MatchKing 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.