Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .224 | 55gr | Sierra Tipped VarmintKing 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,530 psi | 90% | 3077 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 3107 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3159 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,756 psi | 76% | 3077 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3199 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 3035 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,630 psi | 86% | 3041 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,586 psi | 85% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 3182 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant AR-Compᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,690 psi | 90% | 3255 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,674 psi | 87% | 3153 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,544 psi | 88% | 3107 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,052 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 96% | 49,763 psi | 90% | 3127 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 3159 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3173 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3091 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,937 psi | 58% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 3219 fps | 99% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,950 psi | 89% | 3071 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3182 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,327 psi | 90% | 3159 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex D073.6ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 3169 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,863 psi | 87% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,703 psi | 87% | 3133 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,950 psi | 87% | 3169 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,908 psi | 58% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,008 psi | 89% | 3104 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,545 psi | 90% | 3176 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3163 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3182 fps | 96.9% |
| Shooters World Match Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,833 psi | 85% | 3169 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,892 psi | 89% | 2874 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3186 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,196 psi | 87% | 3153 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 41,481 psi | 75% | 2956 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3071 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,659 psi | 85% | 3048 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,834 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,670 psi | 77% | 3084 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N140ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,716 psi | 83% | 3094 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,888 psi | 80% | 3071 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,819 psi | 87% | 3192 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% | 43,453 psi | 79% | 2966 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 82% | 29,921 psi | 54% | 2726 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,813 psi | 72% | 2979 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,269 psi | 53% | 2779 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,714 psi | 78% | 3077 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,738 psi | 67% | 2812 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,308 psi | 77% | 2936 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,595 psi | 70% | 2946 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | 22.9 gr | 82% | 36,753 psi | 67% | 2940 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,715 psi | 47% | 2667 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,387 psi | 59% | 2818 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,016 psi | 73% | 2940 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 64% | 2789 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,427 psi | 84% | 3061 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 22.7 gr | 84% | 35,868 psi | 65% | 2917 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | 24.9 gr | 86% | 39,204 psi | 71% | 2989 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,509 psi | 74% | 2920 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,554 psi | 43% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 33,895 psi | 62% | 2923 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,229 psi | 62% | 2825 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,006 psi | 83% | 3022 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,149 psi | 78% | 3058 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,818 psi | 83% | 3094 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,727 psi | 74% | 3048 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 82% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,999 psi | 67% | 2917 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,479 psi | 72% | 2999 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,250 psi | 42% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,151 psi | 84% | 3054 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,482 psi | 79% | 3058 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,770 psi | 74% | 2992 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,149 psi | 78% | 3058 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,727 psi | 74% | 3048 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,771 psi | 76% | 2762 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,030 psi | 73% | 3002 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,141 psi | 60% | 2822 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,987 psi | 73% | 2913 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,680 psi | 67% | 2851 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,550 psi | 66% | 2858 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,725 psi | 70% | 2904 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,415 psi | 57% | 2730 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,835 psi | 56% | 2717 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,777 psi | 56% | 2802 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,217 psi | 68% | 2917 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,336 psi | 75% | 3018 fps | 95.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,063 psi | 82% | 3140 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 46 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Sierra Tipped VarmintKing. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,255 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,005 fps to 3,255 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 46 of the 46 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 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:8.5 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, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .224 | 55gr | Sierra Tipped VarmintKing 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.