Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 50 R Mag. with .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 39 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are IMR 3031, Vihtavuori N135 and Alliant AR-Comp.
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>> | 90% | 44,396 psi | 90% | 2976 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,728 psi | 87% | 2959 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,699 psi | 87% | 2999 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,353 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,641 psi | 86% | 3018 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,758 psi | 89% | 2890 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,121 psi | 89% | 2900 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,800 psi | 85% | 2972 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,700 psi | 89% | 3051 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,742 psi | 85% | 2946 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,221 psi | 86% | 2864 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,671 psi | 89% | 2933 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,048 psi | 89% | 3038 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,815 psi | 87% | 2995 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,266 psi | 90% | 3015 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,779 psi | 66% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,728 psi | 87% | 3054 fps | 99.2% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,047 psi | 87% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,873 psi | 87% | 2956 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,353 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 97.5% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,527 psi | 90% | 2979 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,699 psi | 87% | 2986 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,837 psi | 67% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,076 psi | 87% | 2969 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,092 psi | 89% | 3094 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,714 psi | 89% | 2972 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,353 psi | 90% | 3038 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,279 psi | 86% | 2969 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,612 psi | 86% | 2959 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,453 psi | 86% | 2890 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 44,280 psi | 90% | 2933 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,121 psi | 89% | 2940 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,540 psi | 88% | 2890 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,251 psi | 90% | 2936 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,179 psi | 90% | 2943 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,265 psi | 88% | 3005 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,018 psi | 85% | 2946 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,829 psi | 85% | 2963 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,873 psi | 87% | 3022 fps | 96.2% |
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% | 32,329 psi | 66% | 2710 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,693 psi | 70% | 2779 fps | 95% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,426 psi | 54% | 2605 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,479 psi | 78% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 32,866 psi | 67% | 2795 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,901 psi | 83% | 2831 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,249 psi | 84% | 2838 fps | 96.6% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,986 psi | 79% | 2913 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | 22.1 gr | 80% | 29,457 psi | 60% | 2720 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 75% | 2848 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 80% | 2812 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,930 psi | 83% | 2874 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,133 psi | 83% | 2979 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,025 psi | 67% | 2766 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,145 psi | 77% | 2887 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,250 psi | 49% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | 22.4 gr | 84% | 29,254 psi | 59% | 2713 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 78% | 2835 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,552 psi | 80% | 2887 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,479 psi | 78% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,061 psi | 85% | 2933 fps | 100% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,099 psi | 71% | 2815 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,018 psi | 49% | 1795 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,971 psi | 77% | 2858 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,234 psi | 84% | 3025 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,564 psi | 74% | 2812 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,479 psi | 78% | 2917 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,494 psi | 80% | 2910 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,362 psi | 76% | 2844 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,201 psi | 71% | 2730 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,300 psi | 66% | 2671 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,285 psi | 65% | 2674 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,075 psi | 83% | 2848 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,751 psi | 70% | 2736 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,660 psi | 58% | 2582 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | 22.2 gr | 82% | 27,673 psi | 56% | 2631 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,605 psi | 66% | 2730 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,476 psi | 70% | 2799 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,639 psi | 80% | 2949 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 39 powders for 5.6 x 50 R Mag. loaded with the .224 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,094 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,959 fps to 3,094 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 39 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 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:13.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, ReloadSwiss RS 60 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, Vihtavuori N135, Alliant AR-Comp rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 50 R 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.