Load data for .223 Rem. + .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus

Recommended Powder(s): ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:	.223 \| 55gr \| Merlin Virtus
Manufacturer SKU:	Merlin-0.223-55
Bullet Weight:	55gr \| 3.6g
Bullet Diameter:	0.223" \| 5.66mm
Bullet Length:	0.830" \| 21.1mm
Caliber:	.223 Rem. load data
Case Length (l3):	1.759" \| 44.7mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):	2.226" \| 56.5mm
Seated Depth:	0.363" \| 9.2mm
Shank Seated Depth:	0.245" \| 6.2mm
Case Capacity:	28.8 Grains of Water \| 1.87 cm³
Primer Size:	Small Rifle (SR)
Max. allowed Pressure:	55114 psi \| 3800 bar
LID:	LID_B10741_C135
Last updated:	2025-01-01
Recommended Twist Rate:	1:10 - 1:8

Load data for 80 loads in caliber .223 Rem. with .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 40 powders such as ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.

Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge unless there are reasons. Since xxlreloading.com has no control over the equipment and components used by the customer and the data used in connection with the website, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected. Also see our Terms of Service.

Questions regarding the load data: Please read the information in the next tab "Explanations".
A load must fulfill certain criteria to be listed in the default view below - see "powder criteria to fulfill to be listed".

Our load data might deviate from other sources - see the "most common reasons for deviations".

All loads are based on the bullet and case dimensions shown under "Load Specifications" - see "reloading suggestions" if you deviate.

You can set your specifications in the "Personalized Load Calculator".

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Min z (%)
Min FR (%)
Max FR*
Barrel Length (Inch)
Barrel Length (cm)
Safety Buffer (%)
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Use the Personalized Load Calculator to customize loads to your own specific requirements. Find more details in the help section.

Our default view only displays powders/loads that fulfill certain criteria: Max pressure of a load <=90% of Max. Standardized Pressure. Fill Rate (Min FR): >80% and <100% for rife loads, >60% and <100% for pistol loads. Min. Propellant Combustion (Min z): >90% for rifle loads , >80% for pistol/revolver loads. Relax these criteria at your own risk to potentially get more powders shown in the load tables.

Click on the desired row in the tables below to add a specific load / powder to your Diary and manage there.

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207 👍	<<locked>>	93%	48849	89%	**84	100%
ADI AR 2219	<<locked>>	95%	48863	89%	**27	97%
Accurate 1680	<<locked>>	84%	48428	88%	**31	98%
Accurate 2015	<<locked>>	96%	40538	74%	**40	98%
[Accurate 2230]*	<<locked>>	97%	46731	85%	**05	92%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	97%	45179	82%	**15	94%
Accurate 2495	<<locked>>	96%	31314	57%	**25	95%
Alliant AR-Comp	<<locked>>	96%	36216	66%	**17	99%
Alliant Reloder-10x 👍	<<locked>>	97%	45890	83%	**64	99%
Alliant Reloder-7 👍	<<locked>>	91%	48385	88%	**38	100%
Baschieri & Pellagri 106	<<locked>>	94%	48834	89%	**92	98%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	96%	42322	77%	**00	92%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	91%	49298	89%	**92	93%
Hodgdon H322	<<locked>>	96%	40944	74%	**69	95%
Hodgdon H335	<<locked>>	96%	49008	89%	**20	96%
Hodgdon H4198	<<locked>>	92%	48254	88%	**99	97%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	96%	29037	53%	**83	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	97%	31604	57%	**85	92%
IMR 4198 👍	<<locked>>	96%	47181	86%	**41	100%
IMR 4227	<<locked>>	87%	49371	90%	**12	100%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	97%	47703	87%	**41	94%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	96%	43207	78%	**72	93%
Lovex S053	<<locked>>	87%	48167	87%	**76	100%
Norma 200 👍	<<locked>>	94%	48805	89%	**00	100%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	96%	34635	63%	**25	92%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	96%	28674	52%	**26	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36	<<locked>>	86%	48341	88%	**31	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	96%	45353	82%	**25	94%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	97%	38943	71%	**87	93%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	91%	49501	90%	**31	100%
SNPE Vectan SP 10	<<locked>>	95%	48109	87%	**00	96%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	96%	38856	71%	**22	93%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	96%	49530	90%	**35	93%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	97%	43265	78%	**95	92%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	96%	36593	66%	**99	94%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	94%	47326	86%	**09	100%
Vihtavuori N130	<<locked>>	97%	43613	79%	**53	99%
Vihtavuori N133	<<locked>>	97%	35592	65%	**85	96%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	97%	33692	61%	**59	92%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	97%	42525	77%	**99	92%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	81%	33794	61%	**92	99%
[ADI AR 2219]*	<<locked>>	81%	30052	55%	**87	90%
Accurate 1680	<<locked>>	81%	44164	80%	**53	97%
[Accurate 2015]*	<<locked>>	81%	24366	44%	**16	91%
[Accurate 2230]*	<<locked>>	95%	42598	77%	**30	90%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	91%	35955	65%	**25	90%
[Accurate 2495]*	<<locked>>	89%	24352	44%	**12	91%
[Alliant AR-Comp]*	<<locked>>	81%	22336	41%	**74	91%
[Alliant Reloder-10x]*	<<locked>>	81%	27717	50%	**35	94%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	81%	35505	64%	**82	97%
[Baschieri & Pellagri 106]*	<<locked>>	81%	31096	56%	**21	92%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	92%	37173	67%	**92	90%
[Hodgdon CFE BLK]*	<<locked>>	85%	39900	72%	**05	90%
[Hodgdon H322]*	<<locked>>	86%	30052	55%	**87	90%
[Hodgdon H335]*	<<locked>>	83%	31850	58%	**40	90%
[Hodgdon H4198]*	<<locked>>	81%	34098	62%	**94	92%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	80%	22495	41%	**22	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	93%	27891	51%	**74	90%
IMR 4198	<<locked>>	81%	30298	55%	**61	96%
IMR 4227	<<locked>>	81%	41321	75%	**71	100%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	89%	36172	66%	**12	90%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	91%	35955	65%	**25	90%
Lovex S053	<<locked>>	81%	40466	73%	**35	100%
Norma 200	<<locked>>	81%	31285	57%	**30	97%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	93%	31749	58%	**49	90%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	81%	22336	41%	**65	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 36	<<locked>>	81%	40538	74%	**84	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	89%	34925	63%	**95	90%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	91%	32837	60%	**40	91%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	81%	37956	69%	**48	100%
[SNPE Vectan SP 10]*	<<locked>>	83%	32663	59%	**62	91%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	91%	32401	59%	**74	91%
[Shooters World Tactical Rifle]*	<<locked>>	92%	43294	79%	**20	91%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	93%	38116	69%	**90	90%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	89%	29559	54%	**18	91%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	81%	31357	57%	**90	100%
[Vihtavuori N130]*	<<locked>>	81%	26716	48%	**46	93%
[Vihtavuori N133]*	<<locked>>	85%	25019	45%	**80	90%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	94%	30980	56%	**94	90%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	94%	39015	71%	**27	91%

Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Any powder missing? Then click here.

FR ... fill rate of the cartridge in percent

MaxP ... max. pressure of load in psi or bar

% ... max. pressure of load in percent of the maximum allowed pressure for this caliber

V(0) ... muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s)

z ... powder burnt in percent

[...] *... not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.

[...] ²... fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.

[...] ᴾ... possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.

👍 ... recommended powder/load for this caliber and bullet combination based on its ballistic performance.