Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 Mag. with .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Winchester 748 and Hodgdon BL-C2.
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3028 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3081 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,647 psi | 90% | 3120 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3127 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,050 psi | 84% | 3084 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 2992 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,617 psi | 90% | 3002 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,632 psi | 90% | 3045 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 3100 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,732 psi | 87% | 3061 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,153 psi | 87% | 2976 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 92% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 3045 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,427 psi | 86% | 3104 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,688 psi | 85% | 3071 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,124 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 2989 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,617 psi | 88% | 3150 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,112 psi | 60% | 1969 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3084 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 3153 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,646 psi | 88% | 3035 fps | 100% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3097 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,429 psi | 90% | 3081 fps | 97.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S062ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 96.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,443 psi | 88% | 3071 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3100 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,706 psi | 59% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,487 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,193 psi | 80% | 3097 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3084 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,834 psi | 89% | 3068 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,240 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 98.2% |
| Shooters World Precisionᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,138 psi | 87% | 2766 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,559 psi | 88% | 3094 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3074 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,414 psi | 88% | 3002 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,210 psi | 86% | 2986 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3074 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,311 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,647 psi | 90% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,254 psi | 88% | 3002 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,877 psi | 87% | 3005 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,603 psi | 90% | 3114 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3074 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3087 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,471 psi | 86% | 3058 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,225 psi | 88% | 3130 fps | 97.5% |
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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,140 psi | 58% | 2703 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,911 psi | 63% | 2785 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,629 psi | 48% | 2608 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,637 psi | 68% | 2887 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,706 psi | 59% | 2792 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,104 psi | 75% | 2838 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 75% | 2844 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,613 psi | 79% | 2943 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,146 psi | 71% | 2917 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,613 psi | 79% | 2979 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 54% | 2726 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,898 psi | 67% | 2844 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,165 psi | 82% | 2956 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,740 psi | 72% | 2815 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,075 psi | 75% | 2881 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | 27.5 gr | 90% | 41,307 psi | 75% | 2982 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,621 psi | 65% | 2835 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,216 psi | 66% | 2841 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,237 psi | 82% | 2940 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,513 psi | 83% | 3087 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,149 psi | 44% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 94% | 45,905 psi | 83% | 3035 fps | 95% |
| IMR 3031 | 22.7 gr | 82% | 30,153 psi | 55% | 2743 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,493 psi | 70% | 2841 fps | 99.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,613 psi | 79% | 2979 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,757 psi | 78% | 2972 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,740 psi | 72% | 2894 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,969 psi | 65% | 2858 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,323 psi | 79% | 2982 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,814 psi | 76% | 2927 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,757 psi | 78% | 2959 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,317 psi | 64% | 2818 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,337 psi | 44% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,189 psi | 69% | 2864 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,379 psi | 75% | 3031 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,738 psi | 67% | 2822 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,091 psi | 78% | 2956 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World AR Plus | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,757 psi | 78% | 2972 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,969 psi | 65% | 2858 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,323 psi | 79% | 2982 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,440 psi | 82% | 2723 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,711 psi | 72% | 2917 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,608 psi | 68% | 2851 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,404 psi | 64% | 2736 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,430 psi | 59% | 2677 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,075 psi | 75% | 2943 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,460 psi | 59% | 2680 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,685 psi | 79% | 2897 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,433 psi | 64% | 2749 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,864 psi | 56% | 2644 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,543 psi | 50% | 2628 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 33,257 psi | 60% | 2743 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,859 psi | 80% | 2976 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,258 psi | 62% | 2779 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 748 | 26.4 gr | 88% | 39,334 psi | 71% | 2943 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 55 powders for 5.6 x 50 Mag. loaded with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,153 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,969 fps to 3,153 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 55 of the 55 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. The 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:13.0 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. IMR 3031, Winchester 748, Hodgdon BL-C2 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 Mag. with the .224 | 60gr | 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.