Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB bullet and 43 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 SNPE Vectan SP 3.
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: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 3219 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3297 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3284 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,205 psi | 75% | 3196 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,313 psi | 89% | 3337 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,702 psi | 85% | 3166 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,123 psi | 86% | 3169 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3294 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,037 psi | 87% | 3320 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,327 psi | 90% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,934 psi | 85% | 3287 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3245 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,704 psi | 88% | 3199 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,719 psi | 90% | 3353 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3297 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3228 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,647 psi | 57% | 2119 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,354 psi | 84% | 3353 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3274 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,631 psi | 88% | 3219 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3317 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,470 psi | 84% | 3294 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,152 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3264 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 3297 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,546 psi | 57% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,327 psi | 88% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3310 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 3291 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3317 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,470 psi | 84% | 3294 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 3317 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3294 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 3212 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,814 psi | 74% | 3071 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3261 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 3228 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,195 psi | 86% | 3219 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,916 psi | 76% | 3202 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,121 psi | 82% | 3215 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,642 psi | 79% | 3196 fps | 95.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,105 psi | 78% | 3097 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,647 psi | 57% | 2900 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,105 psi | 76% | 3159 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,893 psi | 56% | 2943 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,295 psi | 82% | 3261 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,390 psi | 66% | 2936 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,541 psi | 81% | 3117 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,305 psi | 70% | 3081 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 24.8 gr | 84% | 38,899 psi | 71% | 3123 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,253 psi | 49% | 2841 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,053 psi | 58% | 2940 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 72% | 3071 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,896 psi | 63% | 2904 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,014 psi | 69% | 3104 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 26.9 gr | 88% | 41,408 psi | 75% | 3173 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,074 psi | 73% | 3045 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,322 psi | 42% | 1906 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,737 psi | 65% | 3104 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,736 psi | 61% | 2946 fps | 97.9% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 82% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,861 psi | 83% | 3251 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,192 psi | 78% | 3228 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,469 psi | 81% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,448 psi | 66% | 3038 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,742 psi | 76% | 3179 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,380 psi | 42% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,658 psi | 83% | 3196 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,006 psi | 83% | 3245 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,946 psi | 78% | 3173 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,861 psi | 83% | 3251 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,192 psi | 78% | 3228 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,176 psi | 75% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,467 psi | 77% | 3192 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | 22.2 gr | 82% | 34,838 psi | 63% | 2999 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,250 psi | 77% | 3094 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,493 psi | 70% | 3018 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,406 psi | 70% | 3028 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,421 psi | 70% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,792 psi | 56% | 2838 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,532 psi | 59% | 2887 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,561 psi | 59% | 2976 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,769 psi | 72% | 3104 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,770 psi | 74% | 3133 fps | 95% |
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 43 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,392 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,119 fps to 3,392 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 43 of the 43 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 57–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Alliant AR-Comp, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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, SNPE Vectan SP 3 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB 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.