Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.45 x 39 mm with .224 | 40gr | Hornady V-MAX bullet and 20 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AR 2207, Alliant Reloder-7 and ReloadSwiss RS 36.
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: 26.3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3360 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,153 psi | 89% | 3415 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3294 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,050 psi | 85% | 3494 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10xᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,713 psi | 76% | 3392 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 3432 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,095 psi | 53% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,715 psi | 81% | 3399 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,530 psi | 90% | 3442 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 3442 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,311 psi | 86% | 3396 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,108 psi | 85% | 3488 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,297 psi | 51% | 2244 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3465 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,326 psi | 86% | 3442 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,558 psi | 86% | 3383 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,819 psi | 87% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3369 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,509 psi | 74% | 3274 fps | 95.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 26.3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,421 psi | 70% | 3179 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 83% | 3353 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,437 psi | 75% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 16.8 gr | 80% | 26,411 psi | 48% | 2969 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,740 psi | 70% | 3323 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | 19.2 gr | 88% | 36,782 psi | 67% | 3202 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,263 psi | 39% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,592 psi | 65% | 3179 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,982 psi | 62% | 3097 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 3310 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,214 psi | 60% | 3084 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,026 psi | 62% | 3192 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,784 psi | 38% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 17.5 gr | 80% | 32,764 psi | 59% | 3104 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,568 psi | 75% | 3310 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,771 psi | 76% | 3264 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,111 psi | 56% | 2917 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,624 psi | 70% | 3173 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,774 psi | 49% | 2946 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,174 psi | 69% | 3222 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 20 powders for 5.45 x 39 mm loaded with the .224 | 40gr | Hornady V-MAX. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,494 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,201 fps to 3,494 fps. Alliant Reloder-10x gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 20 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 40.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-10x, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4198 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 2207, Alliant Reloder-7, ReloadSwiss RS 36 rank at the top here: for 5.45 x 39 mm with the .224 | 40gr | Hornady V-MAX 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.