Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 70gr | Barnes TAC-X bullet and 53 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are SNPE Vectan SP 10, ADI AR 2219 and Hodgdon H335.
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% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 2769 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,466 psi | 66% | 2631 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,592 psi | 86% | 2815 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,566 psi | 62% | 2592 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,621 psi | 88% | 2703 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,114 psi | 88% | 2713 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 2736 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,057 psi | 90% | 2844 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,575 psi | 81% | 2799 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,809 psi | 86% | 2877 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,418 psi | 87% | 2792 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,666 psi | 89% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,924 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,272 psi | 85% | 2736 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,213 psi | 82% | 2799 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,476 psi | 87% | 2822 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,622 psi | 89% | 2835 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 2746 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,169 psi | 52% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,384 psi | 76% | 2769 fps | 99.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,318 psi | 90% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,956 psi | 90% | 2707 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2776 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2795 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,011 psi | 85% | 2769 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,862 psi | 75% | 2723 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 2657 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 2776 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,225 psi | 77% | 2723 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,318 psi | 90% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2785 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,794 psi | 85% | 2766 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,954 psi | 87% | 2795 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,862 psi | 75% | 2723 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 2762 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,071 psi | 88% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,895 psi | 85% | 2792 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,202 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,547 psi | 84% | 2700 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,047 psi | 67% | 2543 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,897 psi | 88% | 2822 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,227 psi | 81% | 2687 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,925 psi | 86% | 2690 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,230 psi | 89% | 2743 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,706 psi | 83% | 2703 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,395 psi | 70% | 2654 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,122 psi | 74% | 2661 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N530ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,433 psi | 87% | 2782 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,193 psi | 71% | 2641 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,909 psi | 83% | 2815 fps | 97.2% |
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% | 44,121 psi | 71% | 2543 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,255 psi | 49% | 2329 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,769 psi | 64% | 2552 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,109 psi | 47% | 2369 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,987 psi | 64% | 2589 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,347 psi | 58% | 2543 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 60% | 2405 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,176 psi | 64% | 2464 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 63% | 2513 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 19.4 gr | 80% | 34,954 psi | 56% | 2467 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,036 psi | 75% | 2674 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,860 psi | 41% | 2277 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 50,082 psi | 80% | 2818 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,895 psi | 53% | 2408 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 65% | 2513 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,824 psi | 57% | 2395 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,193 psi | 71% | 2585 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,396 psi | 71% | 2684 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,953 psi | 54% | 2448 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 21.5 gr | 86% | 39,233 psi | 63% | 2559 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 66% | 2497 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,496 psi | 38% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,097 psi | 51% | 2457 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,722 psi | 56% | 2411 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,166 psi | 76% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,036 psi | 75% | 2674 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,350 psi | 65% | 2566 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,815 psi | 69% | 2602 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,017 psi | 66% | 2621 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,730 psi | 73% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,840 psi | 59% | 2480 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,405 psi | 60% | 2523 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,427 psi | 74% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,133 psi | 66% | 2572 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,450 psi | 62% | 2513 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,350 psi | 65% | 2566 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,017 psi | 66% | 2621 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,547 psi | 83% | 2707 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,279 psi | 68% | 2343 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 20.5 gr | 82% | 37,521 psi | 60% | 2520 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,373 psi | 54% | 2408 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,840 psi | 61% | 2448 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,432 psi | 55% | 2392 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,790 psi | 77% | 2710 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,766 psi | 56% | 2405 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,407 psi | 63% | 2477 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,459 psi | 50% | 2323 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,327 psi | 47% | 2280 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,167 psi | 47% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,869 psi | 61% | 2513 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,166 psi | 76% | 2671 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,972 psi | 62% | 2543 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,165 psi | 72% | 2700 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 53 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 70gr | Barnes TAC-X. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,877 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,680 fps to 2,877 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 70.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.0 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. SNPE Vectan SP 10, ADI AR 2219, Hodgdon H335 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 70gr | Barnes TAC-X 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.