Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .223 | 55gr | SUS-TAC Varmax (HPT) bullet and 46 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3064 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3156 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3146 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,147 psi | 75% | 3061 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,153 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,195 psi | 86% | 3031 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3038 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3146 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3182 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3140 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3058 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3114 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3225 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,371 psi | 90% | 3202 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3087 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,198 psi | 58% | 2008 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,775 psi | 85% | 3219 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,791 psi | 89% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,863 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,921 psi | 89% | 3169 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,791 psi | 89% | 3146 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,369 psi | 84% | 3156 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3018 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,152 psi | 86% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,413 psi | 86% | 3159 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,662 psi | 57% | 2044 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,428 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3163 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,718 psi | 88% | 3153 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,921 psi | 89% | 3169 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,369 psi | 84% | 3156 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,834 psi | 89% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,414 psi | 88% | 3173 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 3153 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3071 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,988 psi | 74% | 2943 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem S335ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,705 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,066 psi | 87% | 3087 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 3077 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,134 psi | 76% | 3071 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,223 psi | 82% | 3084 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,961 psi | 80% | 3071 fps | 96.5% |
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% | 42,931 psi | 78% | 2956 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,763 psi | 58% | 2776 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,334 psi | 71% | 2966 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,167 psi | 53% | 2772 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,235 psi | 77% | 3064 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,680 psi | 67% | 2808 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,785 psi | 76% | 2920 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,508 psi | 70% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.7 gr | 82% | 36,260 psi | 66% | 2927 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,686 psi | 47% | 2664 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,314 psi | 59% | 2815 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 73% | 2940 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,940 psi | 63% | 2779 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,485 psi | 84% | 3061 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,282 psi | 84% | 3159 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 22.5 gr | 84% | 35,375 psi | 64% | 2904 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 24.7 gr | 86% | 38,711 psi | 70% | 2979 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,466 psi | 73% | 2917 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,293 psi | 42% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,852 psi | 61% | 2920 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,127 psi | 62% | 2822 fps | 98.4% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,905 psi | 83% | 3015 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 3045 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,295 psi | 82% | 3081 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,902 psi | 78% | 3091 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,947 psi | 82% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,434 psi | 66% | 2900 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,943 psi | 71% | 2982 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,409 psi | 42% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,571 psi | 83% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,482 psi | 79% | 3054 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,741 psi | 74% | 2992 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,525 psi | 77% | 3045 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,902 psi | 78% | 3091 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,133 psi | 75% | 2749 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,566 psi | 72% | 2992 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,619 psi | 59% | 2805 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,001 psi | 73% | 2910 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,289 psi | 66% | 2838 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2854 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,624 psi | 70% | 2900 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,966 psi | 56% | 2713 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,343 psi | 59% | 2756 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,705 psi | 56% | 2799 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,231 psi | 68% | 2913 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,901 psi | 74% | 3005 fps | 95.6% |
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 74 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .223 | 55gr | SUS-TAC Varmax (HPT). Alliant Power Pro 1200-R delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,268 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,008 fps to 3,268 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 74 of the 74 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 55.0 gr projectile in 0.223" 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. ADI AR 2219, Hodgdon H335, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .223 | 55gr | SUS-TAC Varmax (HPT) they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 2200, Accurate 2230, ADI AR 2206H 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.