Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 R Mag. with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint bullet and 33 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant AR-Comp, Norma 202 and Alliant Reloder-10x.
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% | 42,395 psi | 86% | 3035 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,816 psi | 89% | 3071 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2495ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,815 psi | 87% | 3100 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate 4064ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,740 psi | 81% | 3054 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,438 psi | 86% | 2949 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,380 psi | 86% | 3028 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,047 psi | 87% | 3091 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,309 psi | 90% | 3166 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,757 psi | 87% | 3068 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,700 psi | 89% | 3025 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,671 psi | 89% | 2979 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,063 psi | 89% | 3114 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,496 psi | 86% | 3071 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,106 psi | 89% | 3005 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,155 psi | 65% | 2018 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,308 psi | 88% | 3159 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,411 psi | 90% | 3061 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,975 psi | 87% | 3051 fps | 99.8% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,381 psi | 88% | 3091 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,126 psi | 65% | 2067 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,411 psi | 90% | 3084 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,800 psi | 85% | 3025 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,903 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,758 psi | 89% | 3077 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 43,511 psi | 88% | 2995 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,264 psi | 86% | 2979 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,511 psi | 86% | 2995 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,090 psi | 85% | 2972 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,540 psi | 86% | 2999 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,453 psi | 86% | 3002 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,714 psi | 89% | 3114 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,728 psi | 87% | 3051 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,583 psi | 86% | 3068 fps | 96.4% |
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>> | 82% | 30,879 psi | 63% | 2759 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,770 psi | 83% | 3005 fps | 95.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,369 psi | 58% | 2756 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,376 psi | 76% | 2999 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 77% | 2848 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2207 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 80% | 2969 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,070 psi | 71% | 2904 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 21.4 gr | 80% | 26,542 psi | 54% | 2703 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | 20.8 gr | 80% | 33,069 psi | 67% | 2841 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,176 psi | 84% | 2976 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,158 psi | 73% | 2818 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,926 psi | 73% | 2927 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,595 psi | 80% | 3009 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,682 psi | 78% | 2887 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,467 psi | 48% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,547 psi | 68% | 2923 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,882 psi | 71% | 2851 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 76% | 2940 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 202 | 25 gr | 92% | 38,029 psi | 77% | 2972 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,569 psi | 48% | 1854 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,872 psi | 85% | 3031 fps | 95% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,450 psi | 80% | 2969 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,203 psi | 77% | 2969 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,750 psi | 68% | 2848 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,537 psi | 78% | 2890 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,925 psi | 71% | 2818 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,317 psi | 72% | 2835 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,246 psi | 76% | 2877 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,169 psi | 63% | 2733 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 86% | 31,053 psi | 63% | 2736 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,762 psi | 60% | 2779 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,565 psi | 76% | 2936 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,118 psi | 81% | 3015 fps | 95.7% |
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 33 powders for 5.6 x 50 R Mag. loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint. Alliant AR-Comp delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,166 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,018 fps to 3,166 fps. Accurate 2495 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 33 of the 33 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (340 MPa), the top charges use 65–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.5 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, Norma 202, Alliant Reloder-10x rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 R Mag. with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip 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.