Load data for 5.6 x 50 R Mag. + .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus

Recommended Powder(s): Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:	.223 \| 45gr \| Merlin Virtus
Manufacturer SKU:	Merlin-0.223-45
Bullet Weight:	45gr \| 2.9g
Bullet Diameter:	0.223" \| 5.66mm
Bullet Length:	0.700" \| 17.8mm
Caliber:	5.6 x 50 R Mag. load data
Case Length (l3):	1.968" \| 50.0mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):	2.365" \| 60.1mm
Seated Depth:	0.303" \| 7.7mm
Shank Seated Depth:	0.303" \| 7.7mm
Case Capacity:	34.0 Grains of Water \| 2.21 cm³
Primer Size:	Small Rifle (SR)
Max. allowed Pressure:	49313 psi \| 3400 bar
LID:	LID_B10740_C915
Last updated:	2025-01-01
Recommended Twist Rate:	1:12 - 1:10

Load data for 68 loads in caliber 5.6 x 50 R Mag. with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 34 powders such as Alliant AR-Comp, Alliant Reloder-10x, Alliant Reloder-7, IMR 4198, Norma 200. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.

Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge unless there are reasons. Since xxlreloading.com has no control over the equipment and components used by the customer and the data used in connection with the website, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected. Also see our Terms of Service.

Questions regarding the load data: Please read the information in the next tab "Explanations".
A load must fulfill certain criteria to be listed in the default view below - see "powder criteria to fulfill to be listed".

Our load data might deviate from other sources - see the "most common reasons for deviations".

All loads are based on the bullet and case dimensions shown under "Load Specifications" - see "reloading suggestions" if you deviate.

You can set your specifications in the "Personalized Load Calculator".

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Our default view only displays powders/loads that fulfill certain criteria: Max pressure of a load <=90% of Max. Standardized Pressure. Fill Rate (Min FR): >80% and <100% for rife loads, >60% and <100% for pistol loads. Min. Propellant Combustion (Min z): >90% for rifle loads , >80% for pistol/revolver loads. Relax these criteria at your own risk to potentially get more powders shown in the load tables.
Case Length (Inch)
Case Length (mm)
CaseCapacity (GoW)
Min z (%)
Min FR (%)
Max FR*
Barrel Length (Inch)
Barrel Length (cm)
Safety Buffer (%)
.

Click on the desired row in the tables below to add a specific load / powder to your Diary and manage there.

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	87%	43192	88%	**40	100%
ADI AR 2219	<<locked>>	89%	42815	87%	**43	96%
Accurate 2015	<<locked>>	96%	43947	89%	**40	98%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	94%	44034	89%	**17	93%
Accurate 2495	<<locked>>	97%	35621	72%	**41	96%
[Accurate 2520]*	<<locked>>	96%	38943	79%	**64	92%
Alliant AR-Comp 👍	<<locked>>	97%	39581	80%	**33	99%
Alliant Reloder-10x 👍	<<locked>>	93%	43627	88%	**69	99%
Alliant Reloder-7 👍	<<locked>>	85%	43236	88%	**97	99%
Baschieri & Pellagri 106	<<locked>>	89%	43163	88%	**15	96%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	94%	43120	87%	**48	92%
Hodgdon H322	<<locked>>	96%	43758	89%	**66	96%
Hodgdon H335	<<locked>>	90%	43482	88%	**46	95%
Hodgdon H4198	<<locked>>	87%	43308	88%	**55	95%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	95%	28529	58%	**65	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	96%	33040	67%	**43	93%
IMR 4198 👍	<<locked>>	91%	43366	88%	**20	99%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	92%	43888	89%	**01	93%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	94%	44034	89%	**17	93%
Norma 200 👍	<<locked>>	89%	43526	88%	**46	99%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	97%	38406	78%	**32	93%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	94%	28050	57%	**15	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	93%	42989	87%	**07	93%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	96%	41278	84%	**68	94%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	85%	43671	89%	**97	100%
SNPE Vectan SP 10	<<locked>>	90%	44353	90%	**66	95%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	96%	41249	84%	**96	94%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	95%	43961	89%	**37	92%
Somchem S335	<<locked>>	97%	40437	82%	**02	95%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	89%	43743	89%	**91	100%
Vihtavuori N130	<<locked>>	95%	43787	89%	**94	98%
Vihtavuori N133	<<locked>>	96%	37405	76%	**50	96%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	96%	35781	73%	**33	92%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	95%	43004	87%	**43	92%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AR 2207	<<locked>>	81%	35621	72%	**69	99%
[ADI AR 2219]*	<<locked>>	81%	32039	65%	**61	91%
[Accurate 2015]*	<<locked>>	81%	26701	54%	**77	91%
[Accurate 2460]*	<<locked>>	90%	37811	77%	**73	90%
[Accurate 2495]*	<<locked>>	88%	25657	52%	**40	91%
[Accurate 2520]*	<<locked>>	93%	34911	71%	**53	90%
[Alliant AR-Comp]*	<<locked>>	81%	23467	48%	**05	91%
[Alliant Reloder-10x]*	<<locked>>	81%	29762	60%	**05	94%
Alliant Reloder-7	<<locked>>	81%	37449	76%	**63	98%
[Baschieri & Pellagri 106]*	<<locked>>	81%	32793	66%	**69	93%
[Hodgdon Benchmark]*	<<locked>>	91%	38682	78%	**50	90%
[Hodgdon H322]*	<<locked>>	86%	31299	63%	**31	90%
[Hodgdon H335]*	<<locked>>	83%	33678	68%	**94	90%
[Hodgdon H4198]*	<<locked>>	81%	36071	73%	**81	93%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	82%	23192	47%	**21	100%
[IMR 3031]*	<<locked>>	92%	29718	60%	**35	91%
IMR 4198	<<locked>>	81%	32256	65%	**38	96%
[Lovex D073.4]*	<<locked>>	88%	37869	77%	**59	90%
[Lovex D073.5]*	<<locked>>	90%	37811	77%	**73	90%
Norma 200	<<locked>>	81%	33475	68%	**04	97%
[Norma 202]*	<<locked>>	92%	33069	67%	**87	90%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	82%	22902	46%	**64	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 40]*	<<locked>>	87%	36013	73%	**36	90%
[Rottweil R 901]*	<<locked>>	89%	33330	68%	**61	90%
SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2	<<locked>>	81%	39059	79%	**15	100%
[SNPE Vectan SP 10]*	<<locked>>	82%	33170	67%	**87	90%
[SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000]*	<<locked>>	89%	32909	67%	**86	90%
[Somchem S321]*	<<locked>>	92%	39378	80%	**35	90%
[Somchem S335]*	<<locked>>	88%	30458	62%	**40	90%
Vihtavuori N120	<<locked>>	81%	33344	68%	**71	100%
[Vihtavuori N130]*	<<locked>>	81%	27978	57%	**87	93%
[Vihtavuori N133]*	<<locked>>	86%	26818	54%	**35	90%
[Vihtavuori N140]*	<<locked>>	93%	32097	65%	**25	90%
[Winchester 748]*	<<locked>>	92%	38537	78%	**35	90%

Start Load - Barrel Length: 23.60''

Any powder missing? Then click here.

FR ... fill rate of the cartridge in percent

MaxP ... max. pressure of load in psi or bar

% ... max. pressure of load in percent of the maximum allowed pressure for this caliber

V(0) ... muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s)

z ... powder burnt in percent

[...] *... not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.

[...] ²... fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.

[...] ᴾ... possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.

👍 ... recommended powder/load for this caliber and bullet combination based on its ballistic performance.

<<locked>>... you need to buy an access license to unlock the data