Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .224 | 50gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 42 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant AR-Comp and ADI AR 2219.
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>> | 82% | 46,427 psi | 84% | 3169 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3268 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,806 psi | 90% | 3317 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,061 psi | 76% | 3219 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,776 psi | 87% | 3323 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,776 psi | 87% | 3323 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,529 psi | 86% | 3189 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3192 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,847 psi | 85% | 3258 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 3343 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,688 psi | 85% | 3350 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,819 psi | 87% | 3307 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 3268 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,371 psi | 90% | 3215 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,385 psi | 90% | 3356 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,225 psi | 88% | 3317 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3241 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,995 psi | 58% | 2136 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,438 psi | 77% | 3278 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,400 psi | 90% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3232 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3314 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,196 psi | 87% | 3186 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,993 psi | 87% | 3287 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,747 psi | 88% | 3327 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,908 psi | 58% | 2182 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 3264 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 3310 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3314 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,342 psi | 90% | 3337 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3317 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,834 psi | 89% | 3232 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,901 psi | 76% | 3100 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 3222 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 3248 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 3228 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3228 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,221 psi | 78% | 3235 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,266 psi | 82% | 3228 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,382 psi | 82% | 3255 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3376 fps | 96% |
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% | 43,439 psi | 79% | 3110 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,010 psi | 58% | 2913 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,859 psi | 78% | 3179 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,691 psi | 57% | 2969 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,498 psi | 81% | 3261 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,498 psi | 81% | 3261 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 67% | 2963 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,368 psi | 82% | 3143 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,798 psi | 70% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 24.6 gr | 82% | 37,014 psi | 67% | 3084 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 22.5 gr | 80% | 26,049 psi | 47% | 2802 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | 21.9 gr | 80% | 32,503 psi | 59% | 2956 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,437 psi | 73% | 3097 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,534 psi | 64% | 2923 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,898 psi | 69% | 3107 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,148 psi | 76% | 3192 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 69% | 3005 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,337 psi | 42% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,215 psi | 64% | 3094 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,156 psi | 62% | 2966 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,340 psi | 84% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,932 psi | 80% | 3251 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 82% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,854 psi | 67% | 3054 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,089 psi | 73% | 3146 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,395 psi | 42% | 1962 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,035 psi | 84% | 3205 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,423 psi | 75% | 3146 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,932 psi | 80% | 3251 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 76% | 2910 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,364 psi | 73% | 3150 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,244 psi | 64% | 3015 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,567 psi | 74% | 3064 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,956 psi | 67% | 2989 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,057 psi | 67% | 3002 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,332 psi | 66% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 56% | 2841 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,590 psi | 59% | 2900 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,009 psi | 56% | 2936 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,494 psi | 72% | 3107 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,366 psi | 77% | 3192 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,572 psi | 85% | 3310 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 42 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Hornady Varmint. Winchester 748 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,376 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,136 fps to 3,376 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 42 of the 42 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 58–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate 2495, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 3031 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. Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant AR-Comp, ADI AR 2219 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .224 | 50gr | Hornady Varmint 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.