Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 77gr | Nosler Custom Competition bullet and 69 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, SNPE Vectan SP 10 and ADI AR 2219.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 53,911 psi | 86% | 2566 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,708 psi | 88% | 2694 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,752 psi | 88% | 2674 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,471 psi | 76% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,724 psi | 89% | 2723 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,034 psi | 71% | 2569 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,839 psi | 88% | 2585 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2598 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AR 2206Hᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2707 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,361 psi | 89% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,114 psi | 87% | 2690 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,347 psi | 89% | 2776 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,391 psi | 90% | 2628 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,751 psi | 86% | 2579 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,157 psi | 87% | 2631 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,202 psi | 90% | 2749 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,637 psi | 89% | 2710 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2680 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 53,490 psi | 86% | 2585 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,143 psi | 88% | 2720 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolutionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,676 psi | 80% | 2677 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,909 psi | 53% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,563 psi | 86% | 2674 fps | 96.7% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,692 psi | 84% | 2726 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2608 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,388 psi | 86% | 2543 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,404 psi | 87% | 2674 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,882 psi | 88% | 2677 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,620 psi | 84% | 2690 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,506 psi | 89% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,939 psi | 85% | 2605 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,688 psi | 76% | 2589 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 2661 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,505 psi | 86% | 2664 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,272 psi | 85% | 2677 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,157 psi | 87% | 2700 fps | 96.3% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,679 psi | 86% | 2635 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,214 psi | 53% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,664 psi | 86% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,694 psi | 88% | 2680 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,505 psi | 87% | 2667 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,633 psi | 81% | 2612 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,620 psi | 84% | 2690 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,688 psi | 76% | 2589 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,622 psi | 89% | 2648 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,115 psi | 90% | 2395 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,230 psi | 87% | 2687 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,983 psi | 87% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,577 psi | 86% | 2680 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 2592 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,629 psi | 73% | 2490 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,765 psi | 85% | 2671 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,100 psi | 88% | 2635 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,663 psi | 84% | 2651 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,332 psi | 89% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,113 psi | 85% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,695 psi | 89% | 2631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,848 psi | 77% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,299 psi | 81% | 2608 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,695 psi | 89% | 2684 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,979 psi | 79% | 2605 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,432 psi | 86% | 2720 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,881 psi | 85% | 2687 fps | 96.7% |
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% | 47,703 psi | 76% | 2480 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,981 psi | 51% | 2260 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,908 psi | 82% | 2638 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 59% | 2372 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 25,889 psi | 42% | 2169 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,318 psi | 58% | 2402 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,113 psi | 55% | 2379 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,625 psi | 65% | 2362 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,002 psi | 66% | 2369 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,588 psi | 78% | 2612 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,888 psi | 69% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 19.2 gr | 80% | 38,508 psi | 62% | 2434 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,685 psi | 68% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 47% | 2270 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | 20.4 gr | 88% | 45,440 psi | 73% | 2615 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,419 psi | 58% | 2365 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,730 psi | 72% | 2464 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,044 psi | 63% | 2349 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,958 psi | 64% | 2395 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,511 psi | 68% | 2536 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,824 psi | 56% | 2356 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,259 psi | 57% | 2365 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,759 psi | 72% | 2448 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,629 psi | 73% | 2569 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,441 psi | 74% | 2621 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,613 psi | 39% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,355 psi | 76% | 2579 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,689 psi | 48% | 2283 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 60% | 2356 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,459 psi | 81% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,685 psi | 68% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,713 psi | 67% | 2477 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,783 psi | 62% | 2415 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 2431 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,081 psi | 79% | 2451 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,198 psi | 80% | 2562 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,134 psi | 68% | 2490 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,510 psi | 67% | 2444 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,121 psi | 71% | 2513 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,171 psi | 55% | 2343 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,575 psi | 81% | 2648 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 92% | 50,299 psi | 81% | 2585 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,468 psi | 39% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,778 psi | 81% | 2539 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,275 psi | 60% | 2382 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,882 psi | 58% | 2343 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,701 psi | 72% | 2516 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,713 psi | 67% | 2477 fps | 96.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,260 psi | 60% | 2431 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,134 psi | 68% | 2490 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,774 psi | 73% | 2503 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,078 psi | 72% | 2257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | 19.8 gr | 80% | 38,653 psi | 62% | 2428 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,246 psi | 60% | 2379 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,096 psi | 80% | 2628 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,505 psi | 55% | 2270 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,633 psi | 51% | 2224 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,047 psi | 69% | 2513 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,778 psi | 51% | 2228 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,197 psi | 79% | 2598 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,989 psi | 69% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,114 psi | 56% | 2290 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 49% | 2201 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,166 psi | 44% | 2188 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,592 psi | 55% | 2333 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,612 psi | 68% | 2480 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,302 psi | 57% | 2359 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,191 psi | 66% | 2513 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,050 psi | 74% | 2582 fps | 95.1% |
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 69 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 77gr | Nosler Custom Competition. Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,776 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,601 fps to 2,776 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 69 of the 69 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 1:9.5 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, SNPE Vectan SP 10, ADI AR 2219 rank at the top here: for 5.56 x 45 NATO with the .224 | 77gr | Nosler Custom Competition 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.