Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 77gr | Barnes Match Burner BT bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Hodgdon H322 and SNPE Vectan SP 10.
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>> | 84% | 53,693 psi | 86% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,187 psi | 88% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,824 psi | 86% | 2654 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,557 psi | 75% | 2585 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,795 psi | 88% | 2703 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,207 psi | 69% | 2552 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2575 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,042 psi | 88% | 2589 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,056 psi | 87% | 2687 fps | 96.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,084 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,273 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 2720 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,360 psi | 87% | 2753 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,274 psi | 89% | 2664 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,072 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 52,997 psi | 85% | 2566 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2621 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2733 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,679 psi | 88% | 2690 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,130 psi | 90% | 2713 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,275 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,346 psi | 87% | 2703 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,979 psi | 79% | 2661 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,793 psi | 53% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,736 psi | 85% | 2657 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,677 psi | 83% | 2707 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2638 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,273 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,505 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,070 psi | 87% | 2657 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,721 psi | 83% | 2674 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,129 psi | 88% | 2523 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 2638 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,891 psi | 75% | 2569 fps | 96.2% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,883 psi | 90% | 2651 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,649 psi | 84% | 2644 fps | 97.4% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,431 psi | 84% | 2661 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,403 psi | 86% | 2684 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,098 psi | 53% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 2605 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,520 psi | 87% | 2671 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 2648 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,734 psi | 80% | 2592 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,505 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,721 psi | 83% | 2674 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,891 psi | 75% | 2569 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 2641 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,940 psi | 88% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,316 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 52,924 psi | 85% | 2635 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 2664 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,547 psi | 84% | 2575 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,455 psi | 73% | 2480 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,695 psi | 89% | 2707 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,230 psi | 87% | 2618 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S341ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 2687 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,172 psi | 87% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,854 psi | 90% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,579 psi | 89% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,601 psi | 76% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,183 psi | 80% | 2602 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2667 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,196 psi | 77% | 2585 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,649 psi | 84% | 2700 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,141 psi | 84% | 2671 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% | 46,833 psi | 75% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 50% | 2234 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,781 psi | 57% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 25,599 psi | 41% | 2156 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,042 psi | 58% | 2392 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,286 psi | 53% | 2359 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,350 psi | 65% | 2352 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,727 psi | 65% | 2359 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,111 psi | 82% | 2644 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,511 psi | 68% | 2434 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 60% | 2408 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,860 psi | 72% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,558 psi | 46% | 2247 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 20.6 gr | 90% | 47,790 psi | 77% | 2651 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,056 psi | 58% | 2352 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 70% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 61% | 2329 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,496 psi | 68% | 2434 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,322 psi | 68% | 2526 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 18.3 gr | 80% | 34,519 psi | 55% | 2343 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,983 psi | 56% | 2352 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,411 psi | 71% | 2438 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,008 psi | 77% | 2605 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,383 psi | 74% | 2615 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,424 psi | 39% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,543 psi | 75% | 2559 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,399 psi | 47% | 2270 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,289 psi | 60% | 2343 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,053 psi | 80% | 2490 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,860 psi | 72% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,843 psi | 65% | 2454 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,770 psi | 65% | 2448 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,028 psi | 59% | 2425 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,646 psi | 78% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,385 psi | 79% | 2543 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,729 psi | 70% | 2513 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,553 psi | 65% | 2421 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,918 psi | 70% | 2503 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,866 psi | 54% | 2329 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,893 psi | 80% | 2628 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,294 psi | 39% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,705 psi | 80% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,131 psi | 63% | 2415 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,592 psi | 57% | 2333 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,918 psi | 70% | 2493 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,843 psi | 65% | 2454 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,028 psi | 59% | 2425 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,729 psi | 70% | 2513 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,962 psi | 72% | 2480 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,599 psi | 72% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 19.6 gr | 80% | 38,421 psi | 62% | 2418 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 58% | 2356 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,356 psi | 79% | 2612 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,287 psi | 55% | 2260 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,386 psi | 50% | 2215 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,308 psi | 68% | 2493 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,517 psi | 51% | 2218 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,938 psi | 83% | 2635 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,554 psi | 68% | 2398 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,301 psi | 55% | 2270 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 48% | 2178 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,861 psi | 43% | 2175 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,866 psi | 54% | 2313 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,904 psi | 72% | 2513 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,114 psi | 56% | 2349 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,480 psi | 65% | 2493 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,631 psi | 78% | 2615 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 67 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 77gr | Barnes Match Burner BT. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,753 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,594 fps to 2,753 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 67 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (430 MPa), the top charges use 53–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 77.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, ADI AR 2206H 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. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R, Hodgdon H322, SNPE Vectan SP 10 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 77gr | 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.