Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 48 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant AR-Comp, IMR 3031 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,892 psi | 87% | 3153 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,340 psi | 84% | 3140 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,180 psi | 84% | 3179 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3192 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,801 psi | 78% | 3133 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3077 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,080 psi | 87% | 3084 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3228 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 3241 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3192 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 3140 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 3104 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,079 psi | 85% | 3110 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 3225 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,311 psi | 86% | 3196 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3212 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,139 psi | 89% | 3127 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,561 psi | 59% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,182 psi | 87% | 3274 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,182 psi | 89% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,427 psi | 84% | 3156 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,412 psi | 84% | 3133 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3215 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,892 psi | 89% | 3186 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3219 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,576 psi | 59% | 2096 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,891 psi | 85% | 3156 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,963 psi | 85% | 3150 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 902ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,255 psi | 89% | 3182 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,427 psi | 84% | 3156 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3215 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,762 psi | 88% | 2894 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 3225 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,994 psi | 89% | 3196 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,298 psi | 89% | 3127 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,020 psi | 82% | 3054 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 3196 fps | 96.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3120 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,384 psi | 86% | 3084 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,036 psi | 85% | 3189 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,443 psi | 90% | 3189 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,283 psi | 88% | 3179 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3251 fps | 96.9% |
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% | 46,122 psi | 84% | 3045 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,429 psi | 55% | 2762 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,768 psi | 69% | 2956 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 28,369 psi | 51% | 2762 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,988 psi | 74% | 3068 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,099 psi | 64% | 2956 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 72% | 2907 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,769 psi | 72% | 2910 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,626 psi | 76% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,101 psi | 67% | 2976 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 22.5 gr | 80% | 28,079 psi | 51% | 2776 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,027 psi | 64% | 2910 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,149 psi | 78% | 3031 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,898 psi | 69% | 2877 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,092 psi | 80% | 3048 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,889 psi | 81% | 3163 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 23.2 gr | 80% | 33,837 psi | 61% | 2890 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,651 psi | 67% | 2956 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,439 psi | 79% | 3015 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,801 psi | 43% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 24.1 gr | 86% | 32,372 psi | 59% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,419 psi | 66% | 2910 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,379 psi | 73% | 3028 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,352 psi | 79% | 3074 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,740 psi | 70% | 3028 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,682 psi | 72% | 2999 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,209 psi | 84% | 3136 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,797 psi | 69% | 2986 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,931 psi | 43% | 1880 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,466 psi | 75% | 3045 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,421 psi | 72% | 2989 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,079 psi | 84% | 3123 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,379 psi | 73% | 3028 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,740 psi | 70% | 3028 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,019 psi | 80% | 2822 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 68% | 2972 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 2917 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,247 psi | 69% | 2907 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,925 psi | 63% | 2838 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,744 psi | 81% | 3123 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,824 psi | 63% | 2841 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 76% | 2982 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,808 psi | 61% | 2815 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,341 psi | 53% | 2700 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,544 psi | 54% | 2789 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,940 psi | 65% | 2910 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,898 psi | 67% | 2943 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,873 psi | 78% | 3127 fps | 95.2% |
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 48 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,274 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,051 fps to 3,274 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 48 of the 48 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. 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. Alliant AR-Comp, IMR 3031, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .224 | 55gr | 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.