Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 R Mag. with .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint bullet and 36 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 2015 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,120 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,872 psi | 85% | 3038 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,048 psi | 89% | 3130 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,265 psi | 88% | 3114 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,857 psi | 83% | 3084 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,076 psi | 87% | 2972 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,468 psi | 88% | 2976 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,757 psi | 87% | 3041 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,237 psi | 90% | 3123 fps | 98% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,815 psi | 87% | 3143 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,526 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,454 psi | 90% | 3045 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,843 psi | 85% | 2949 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,134 psi | 85% | 3081 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,540 psi | 88% | 3100 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,814 psi | 85% | 2966 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,416 psi | 66% | 2031 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,411 psi | 90% | 3189 fps | 98.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,598 psi | 86% | 3035 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,714 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 96% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,772 psi | 89% | 3071 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,990 psi | 89% | 3110 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,401 psi | 66% | 2080 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,975 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 96.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,714 psi | 87% | 3104 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,541 psi | 90% | 3117 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,527 psi | 90% | 3100 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,585 psi | 90% | 3025 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,308 psi | 88% | 3009 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,047 psi | 87% | 3015 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,975 psi | 87% | 2995 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,250 psi | 88% | 3022 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,105 psi | 87% | 3022 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,698 psi | 85% | 3077 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,801 psi | 89% | 3077 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,569 psi | 88% | 3097 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 2015 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 60% | 2720 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,015 psi | 79% | 2976 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,037 psi | 59% | 2779 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,205 psi | 82% | 3048 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,752 psi | 73% | 2966 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,392 psi | 78% | 2871 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,046 psi | 83% | 2927 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 82% | 2992 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 72% | 2930 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 21.8 gr | 80% | 27,122 psi | 55% | 2733 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 69% | 2867 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,945 psi | 85% | 2995 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,724 psi | 74% | 2838 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | 22.9 gr | 84% | 34,461 psi | 70% | 2897 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,913 psi | 77% | 2976 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,421 psi | 80% | 2913 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,830 psi | 48% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 23.6 gr | 90% | 32,213 psi | 65% | 2890 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,650 psi | 72% | 2877 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,697 psi | 81% | 3038 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,479 psi | 78% | 2963 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,595 psi | 78% | 2992 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,540 psi | 48% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,132 psi | 81% | 2995 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 39,697 psi | 81% | 3038 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,827 psi | 79% | 2992 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,505 psi | 70% | 2874 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,131 psi | 79% | 2910 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 35,795 psi | 73% | 2848 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,897 psi | 73% | 2858 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,579 psi | 76% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,821 psi | 65% | 2756 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,863 psi | 61% | 2707 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,414 psi | 62% | 2802 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,361 psi | 74% | 2913 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,334 psi | 78% | 2982 fps | 95.3% |
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 36 powders for 5.6 x 50 R Mag. loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,189 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,031 fps to 3,189 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 36 of the 36 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (340 MPa), the top charges use 66–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 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. Alliant AR-Comp, IMR 3031, Hodgdon H322 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 R Mag. with the .224 | 55gr | Berger FB 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.