Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 75gr | Hornady A-MAX bullet and 61 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Somchem S321, Hodgdon H322 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% | 56,231 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,962 psi | 72% | 2592 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,243 psi | 85% | 2710 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,742 psi | 67% | 2556 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,420 psi | 90% | 2631 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 2598 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,608 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,505 psi | 86% | 2733 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,837 psi | 85% | 2762 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,838 psi | 86% | 2677 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,781 psi | 88% | 2635 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,317 psi | 89% | 2625 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,709 psi | 89% | 2674 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,867 psi | 86% | 2740 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,243 psi | 85% | 2700 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,723 psi | 88% | 2723 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,027 psi | 88% | 2628 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2710 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,837 psi | 53% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,430 psi | 82% | 2664 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,183 psi | 80% | 2717 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,998 psi | 88% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2589 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,941 psi | 90% | 2720 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,982 psi | 85% | 2680 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,547 psi | 84% | 2667 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,183 psi | 80% | 2680 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,853 psi | 86% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 2648 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,227 psi | 82% | 2651 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,053 psi | 82% | 2671 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boarᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,767 psi | 89% | 2743 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,303 psi | 89% | 2680 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,503 psi | 52% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,013 psi | 88% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 2723 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,840 psi | 90% | 2710 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,457 psi | 78% | 2598 fps | 96.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,982 psi | 85% | 2680 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,183 psi | 80% | 2680 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,447 psi | 86% | 2641 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,534 psi | 87% | 2405 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2697 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,085 psi | 88% | 2638 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,280 psi | 71% | 2490 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,331 psi | 87% | 2717 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2631 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,606 psi | 86% | 2582 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,215 psi | 87% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,180 psi | 74% | 2602 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,820 psi | 78% | 2612 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,417 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,920 psi | 75% | 2595 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,969 psi | 88% | 2762 fps | 98.2% |
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% | 45,745 psi | 73% | 2474 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 48% | 2241 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 2408 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,165 psi | 42% | 2198 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,536 psi | 60% | 2451 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,577 psi | 55% | 2411 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 63% | 2359 fps | 97.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,740 psi | 64% | 2365 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,916 psi | 67% | 2457 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,608 psi | 59% | 2415 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,151 psi | 74% | 2569 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,688 psi | 44% | 2247 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,864 psi | 80% | 2713 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,998 psi | 56% | 2359 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,641 psi | 68% | 2454 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,405 psi | 60% | 2339 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,743 psi | 70% | 2484 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,468 psi | 70% | 2575 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 18.2 gr | 80% | 33,576 psi | 54% | 2349 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,492 psi | 59% | 2415 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,410 psi | 70% | 2448 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,371 psi | 79% | 2654 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,902 psi | 38% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,660 psi | 78% | 2621 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,240 psi | 48% | 2320 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,825 psi | 59% | 2362 fps | 99.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,878 psi | 78% | 2507 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,151 psi | 74% | 2569 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 64% | 2470 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,496 psi | 68% | 2507 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,029 psi | 61% | 2470 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,138 psi | 77% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,937 psi | 82% | 2595 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,378 psi | 63% | 2431 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,165 psi | 72% | 2552 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,824 psi | 56% | 2379 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,083 psi | 84% | 2690 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,692 psi | 83% | 2628 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,279 psi | 39% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,544 psi | 78% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,814 psi | 65% | 2477 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,550 psi | 59% | 2379 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,165 psi | 72% | 2546 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | 19.6 gr | 80% | 40,219 psi | 64% | 2470 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,029 psi | 61% | 2470 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,050 psi | 75% | 2543 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,208 psi | 71% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,347 psi | 60% | 2421 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,810 psi | 57% | 2372 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,302 psi | 57% | 2306 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,343 psi | 52% | 2260 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S321 | 22.1 gr | 90% | 44,063 psi | 71% | 2552 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,416 psi | 52% | 2264 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,032 psi | 67% | 2421 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,837 psi | 54% | 2287 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 47% | 2195 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,572 psi | 44% | 2221 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,331 psi | 57% | 2369 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,949 psi | 75% | 2575 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,056 psi | 58% | 2395 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,177 psi | 68% | 2552 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 61 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 75gr | Hornady A-MAX. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,762 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,617 fps to 2,762 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 61 of the 61 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 75.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI Benchmark 8208 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. Somchem S321, Hodgdon H322, Shooters World AR Plus rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 75gr | Hornady A-MAX 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.