Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .224 Weath. Mag. with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 49 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2219, Hodgdon H335 and Hodgdon H322.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,362 psi | 88% | 3635 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,258 psi | 83% | 3665 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,333 psi | 88% | 3727 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,046 psi | 64% | 3474 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate 2520ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,113 psi | 83% | 3707 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,666 psi | 89% | 3642 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,174 psi | 90% | 3655 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,840 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,145 psi | 90% | 3533 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,333 psi | 88% | 3714 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,434 psi | 87% | 3760 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,371 psi | 77% | 3698 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,811 psi | 89% | 3763 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,505 psi | 85% | 3658 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3615 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmarkᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,188 psi | 88% | 3681 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,276 psi | 90% | 3796 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,405 psi | 87% | 3747 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,419 psi | 87% | 3652 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,604 psi | 50% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,934 psi | 74% | 3661 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,868 psi | 86% | 3691 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,839 psi | 86% | 3625 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,667 psi | 90% | 3740 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,116 psi | 90% | 3763 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3724 fps | 97.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,463 psi | 88% | 3612 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,261 psi | 90% | 3747 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,659 psi | 75% | 3596 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,328 psi | 49% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,013 psi | 86% | 3658 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,579 psi | 89% | 3747 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil R 901ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,372 psi | 81% | 3645 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,116 psi | 90% | 3763 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,667 psi | 90% | 3740 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3425 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,202 psi | 88% | 3760 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,737 psi | 86% | 3720 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,387 psi | 81% | 3563 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,017 psi | 64% | 3350 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,505 psi | 85% | 3717 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,937 psi | 78% | 3556 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3652 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,389 psi | 85% | 3638 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,430 psi | 79% | 3570 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,163 psi | 66% | 3494 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,266 psi | 71% | 3507 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 748ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,256 psi | 80% | 3698 fps | 95.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,163 psi | 68% | 3379 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,475 psi | 52% | 3212 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,148 psi | 66% | 3442 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 32,851 psi | 51% | 3261 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,498 psi | 71% | 3553 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,754 psi | 61% | 3264 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,309 psi | 69% | 3396 fps | 95% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 55,071 psi | 86% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,737 psi | 84% | 3481 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,174 psi | 60% | 3356 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 27.8 gr | 84% | 38,899 psi | 61% | 3402 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,601 psi | 45% | 3143 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,705 psi | 50% | 3189 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 62% | 3343 fps | 98.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,420 psi | 59% | 3232 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,356 psi | 77% | 3547 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 28.2 gr | 88% | 40,611 psi | 64% | 3445 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 30.1 gr | 88% | 41,307 psi | 65% | 3448 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 63% | 3323 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,916 psi | 36% | 2083 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,795 psi | 56% | 3379 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,678 psi | 53% | 3212 fps | 97.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 72% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,230 psi | 85% | 3678 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,411 psi | 71% | 3530 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,776 psi | 76% | 3576 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 70% | 3399 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,911 psi | 56% | 3297 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,974 psi | 66% | 3465 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,843 psi | 36% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,179 psi | 71% | 3471 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,456 psi | 73% | 3543 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,641 psi | 67% | 3451 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,411 psi | 71% | 3530 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,230 psi | 85% | 3678 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,683 psi | 64% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,569 psi | 67% | 3478 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,115 psi | 58% | 3333 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,351 psi | 66% | 3373 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,522 psi | 60% | 3287 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 96% | 50,647 psi | 79% | 3642 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,247 psi | 60% | 3294 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,866 psi | 81% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,319 psi | 60% | 3314 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 48% | 3081 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,461 psi | 54% | 3202 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,314 psi | 51% | 3232 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,453 psi | 67% | 3442 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,109 psi | 75% | 3632 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 49 powders for .224 Weath. Mag. loaded with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus. Hodgdon H322 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,796 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,326 fps to 3,796 fps. Accurate 2015 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 49 of the 49 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 45.0 gr projectile in 0.223" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2015, Accurate 2495, Accurate 2520 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. ADI AR 2219, Hodgdon H335, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for .224 Weath. Mag. with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus 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.