Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .224 | 52gr | Berger Varmint bullet and 45 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon H322, Accurate 2520 and Alliant Reloder-10x.
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% | 47,065 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 3219 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3261 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,641 psi | 77% | 3176 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,239 psi | 86% | 3251 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,552 psi | 72% | 3123 fps | 96% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,138 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,515 psi | 88% | 3150 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,398 psi | 86% | 3205 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 3294 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,037 psi | 87% | 3255 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3212 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3169 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,485 psi | 86% | 3261 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,791 psi | 89% | 3274 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3196 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,010 psi | 58% | 2087 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3327 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,443 psi | 90% | 3238 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,516 psi | 90% | 3179 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3225 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3274 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 3235 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3274 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,937 psi | 58% | 2133 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3202 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,123 psi | 86% | 3222 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3264 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3225 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3274 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,821 psi | 90% | 3291 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 3264 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3182 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,250 psi | 77% | 3058 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,645 psi | 86% | 3176 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,327 psi | 88% | 3189 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,656 psi | 79% | 3189 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,369 psi | 84% | 3192 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 3173 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,805 psi | 89% | 3304 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% | 43,961 psi | 80% | 3068 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,574 psi | 55% | 2825 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,350 psi | 73% | 3074 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,979 psi | 54% | 2871 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | 28.3 gr | 94% | 43,932 psi | 80% | 3186 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,782 psi | 67% | 3061 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,492 psi | 68% | 2920 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,902 psi | 78% | 3035 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 71% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,101 psi | 67% | 3035 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,324 psi | 48% | 2766 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | 21.5 gr | 80% | 32,837 psi | 60% | 2913 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,872 psi | 74% | 3048 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,665 psi | 65% | 2877 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 23.9 gr | 84% | 36,274 psi | 66% | 3012 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,697 psi | 72% | 3087 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,307 psi | 75% | 3025 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,598 psi | 43% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,606 psi | 63% | 3028 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,795 psi | 63% | 2927 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,659 psi | 85% | 3127 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,787 psi | 79% | 3159 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,394 psi | 75% | 3146 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,759 psi | 83% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 68% | 3012 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 40,393 psi | 73% | 3104 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,279 psi | 42% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,514 psi | 84% | 3156 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,483 psi | 81% | 3166 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,611 psi | 76% | 3097 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,787 psi | 79% | 3159 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,394 psi | 75% | 3146 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 76% | 2854 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,625 psi | 74% | 3104 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,533 psi | 61% | 2920 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,741 psi | 74% | 3015 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,202 psi | 68% | 2946 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,188 psi | 67% | 2956 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,291 psi | 71% | 3005 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,850 psi | 58% | 2822 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,067 psi | 56% | 2805 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,502 psi | 57% | 2900 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,072 psi | 69% | 3018 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,552 psi | 72% | 3061 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,527 psi | 83% | 3238 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 45 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .224 | 52gr | Berger Varmint. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,327 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,087 fps to 3,327 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 45 of the 45 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. The 52.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 2495, Accurate 4064, 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. Hodgdon H322, Accurate 2520, Alliant Reloder-10x rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .224 | 52gr | Berger 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.