Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.56 x 45 NATO with .224 | 77gr | Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet and 63 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 56,159 psi | 90% | 2579 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,708 psi | 86% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2700 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,547 psi | 84% | 2628 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,121 psi | 72% | 2556 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,779 psi | 85% | 2667 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,901 psi | 67% | 2523 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,304 psi | 90% | 2585 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 90% | 53,650 psi | 86% | 2559 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,405 psi | 90% | 2621 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,651 psi | 89% | 2697 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,635 psi | 86% | 2694 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,837 psi | 85% | 2720 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,491 psi | 87% | 2648 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,303 psi | 89% | 2602 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,477 psi | 89% | 2589 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,782 psi | 89% | 2635 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,331 psi | 87% | 2710 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 53,229 psi | 85% | 2661 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,897 psi | 88% | 2687 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,535 psi | 89% | 2595 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,142 psi | 85% | 2674 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,503 psi | 52% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGETᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,634 psi | 83% | 2628 fps | 96% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,285 psi | 81% | 2677 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,521 psi | 89% | 2618 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,129 psi | 88% | 2549 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBRᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,188 psi | 90% | 2684 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 2644 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,808 psi | 85% | 2631 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,502 psi | 81% | 2644 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,099 psi | 87% | 2503 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,636 psi | 88% | 2612 fps | 96.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,331 psi | 87% | 2625 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,372 psi | 82% | 2615 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,126 psi | 82% | 2635 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot Wild Boarᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,448 psi | 89% | 2700 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,853 psi | 88% | 2635 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,808 psi | 53% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,419 psi | 89% | 2585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,347 psi | 90% | 2687 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,970 psi | 90% | 2671 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,544 psi | 78% | 2562 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,026 psi | 85% | 2644 fps | 98.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,502 psi | 81% | 2644 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 53,548 psi | 86% | 2605 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,650 psi | 88% | 2365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,811 psi | 89% | 2694 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,245 psi | 89% | 2654 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,129 psi | 88% | 2602 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,338 psi | 71% | 2454 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 53,795 psi | 86% | 2671 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,084 psi | 85% | 2592 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,376 psi | 90% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,491 psi | 87% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,230 psi | 87% | 2598 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,209 psi | 74% | 2562 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,283 psi | 77% | 2566 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,621 psi | 86% | 2638 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,137 psi | 76% | 2559 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,563 psi | 87% | 2717 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL Matchᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,401 psi | 81% | 2635 fps | 95.8% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,137 psi | 74% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,400 psi | 49% | 2211 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 2230 | <<locked>> | 88% | 52,301 psi | 84% | 2641 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,085 psi | 56% | 2329 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,368 psi | 42% | 2175 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,521 psi | 60% | 2415 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,590 psi | 52% | 2336 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 64% | 2329 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,929 psi | 64% | 2333 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,481 psi | 67% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,956 psi | 59% | 2388 fps | 97% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,671 psi | 70% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,891 psi | 45% | 2221 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,007 psi | 75% | 2625 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 56% | 2329 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,873 psi | 69% | 2418 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 61% | 2313 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,307 psi | 66% | 2405 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,685 psi | 70% | 2543 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 54% | 2320 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,376 psi | 58% | 2375 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,613 psi | 70% | 2415 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,775 psi | 75% | 2575 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,989 psi | 38% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,791 psi | 78% | 2585 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,487 psi | 49% | 2293 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,912 psi | 59% | 2329 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,994 psi | 79% | 2467 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,671 psi | 70% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 64% | 2431 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,147 psi | 64% | 2428 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,043 psi | 61% | 2438 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,240 psi | 77% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 98% | 50,966 psi | 82% | 2556 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,682 psi | 64% | 2398 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,223 psi | 73% | 2516 fps | 95.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,201 psi | 56% | 2352 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,648 psi | 83% | 2648 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 94% | 51,938 psi | 83% | 2592 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,381 psi | 39% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,791 psi | 78% | 2497 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,450 psi | 62% | 2395 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,825 psi | 59% | 2349 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,818 psi | 73% | 2520 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 64% | 2431 fps | 95.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,043 psi | 61% | 2438 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,065 psi | 75% | 2507 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,150 psi | 71% | 2234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,217 psi | 60% | 2385 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 57% | 2329 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,607 psi | 57% | 2280 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,634 psi | 52% | 2234 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,150 psi | 71% | 2520 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,648 psi | 52% | 2234 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,611 psi | 67% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,504 psi | 54% | 2244 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,138 psi | 47% | 2156 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,775 psi | 45% | 2195 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,330 psi | 53% | 2290 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,700 psi | 70% | 2484 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,100 psi | 58% | 2362 fps | 95.4% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,250 psi | 68% | 2520 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,949 psi | 75% | 2579 fps | 95% |
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 89 powders for 5.56 x 45 NATO loaded with the .224 | 77gr | Sierra Tipped MatchKing. Hodgdon CFE223 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,779 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,581 fps to 2,779 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 89 of the 89 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 77.0 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 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. As outliers, ADI AR 2208, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.