Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 57 R with .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 89 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 60 and ReloadSwiss RS 52.
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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You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2015 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,840 psi | 88% | 3507 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,563 psi | 86% | 3520 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,305 psi | 90% | 3566 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,753 psi | 89% | 3593 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,058 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,082 psi | 78% | 3527 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,013 psi | 86% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,390 psi | 87% | 3481 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,201 psi | 87% | 3589 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3579 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3589 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,462 psi | 85% | 3547 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,433 psi | 85% | 3543 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,680 psi | 87% | 3678 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,085 psi | 86% | 3704 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,217 psi | 88% | 3612 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,187 psi | 86% | 3524 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,884 psi | 89% | 3635 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,950 psi | 77% | 3537 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,537 psi | 90% | 3737 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,810 psi | 86% | 3432 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,651 psi | 87% | 3599 fps | 97.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,434 psi | 88% | 3619 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,304 psi | 88% | 3537 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,780 psi | 84% | 3570 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,695 psi | 87% | 3681 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,998 psi | 86% | 3566 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,333 psi | 88% | 3583 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,201 psi | 85% | 3560 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,724 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,875 psi | 70% | 3389 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,390 psi | 87% | 3638 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,490 psi | 54% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,348 psi | 90% | 3612 fps | 99.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 3606 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,695 psi | 87% | 3566 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,622 psi | 87% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,317 psi | 85% | 3602 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,462 psi | 85% | 3547 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,592 psi | 86% | 3530 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,868 psi | 86% | 3570 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,201 psi | 87% | 3517 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,187 psi | 86% | 3563 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 3533 fps | 96% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,276 psi | 90% | 3593 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,346 psi | 85% | 3547 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3619 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,501 psi | 78% | 3517 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,884 psi | 89% | 3638 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,056 psi | 86% | 3537 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,549 psi | 85% | 3573 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,956 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,824 psi | 55% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,421 psi | 90% | 3596 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,217 psi | 90% | 3714 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,566 psi | 90% | 3757 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,125 psi | 79% | 3547 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 3586 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,288 psi | 85% | 3530 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3609 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 3533 fps | 96% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,868 psi | 86% | 3570 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,187 psi | 86% | 3563 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 3560 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,609 psi | 90% | 3228 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3589 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,868 psi | 86% | 3612 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,000 psi | 89% | 3579 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 3615 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,883 psi | 88% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3471 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,072 psi | 88% | 3583 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,884 psi | 89% | 3579 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,971 psi | 89% | 3612 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,295 psi | 69% | 3451 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,347 psi | 87% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,883 psi | 88% | 3478 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,811 psi | 89% | 3560 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,868 psi | 86% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,027 psi | 86% | 3527 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,446 psi | 82% | 3527 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,114 psi | 86% | 3547 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,913 psi | 89% | 3563 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,576 psi | 81% | 3527 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,041 psi | 85% | 3517 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,694 psi | 86% | 3596 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,421 psi | 90% | 3622 fps | 99.2% |
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% | 43,004 psi | 67% | 3271 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,181 psi | 74% | 3383 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,143 psi | 55% | 3120 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,192 psi | 66% | 3304 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,199 psi | 52% | 3084 fps | 97% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,238 psi | 72% | 3448 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,663 psi | 81% | 3396 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,011 psi | 82% | 3419 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,525 psi | 67% | 3320 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,743 psi | 69% | 3317 fps | 95.2% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,373 psi | 82% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,655 psi | 65% | 3274 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,814 psi | 64% | 3297 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,385 psi | 76% | 3524 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 38.3 gr | 86% | 44,657 psi | 70% | 3468 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,507 psi | 59% | 3199 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,457 psi | 76% | 3406 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,352 psi | 68% | 3350 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,934 psi | 72% | 3465 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,234 psi | 63% | 3346 fps | 95.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,271 psi | 80% | 3373 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,020 psi | 71% | 3379 fps | 95.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,130 psi | 58% | 3196 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,627 psi | 68% | 3281 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,219 psi | 63% | 3274 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,237 psi | 69% | 3435 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,848 psi | 75% | 3432 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,834 psi | 77% | 3445 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,210 psi | 74% | 3415 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,885 psi | 63% | 3258 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,262 psi | 62% | 3251 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,682 psi | 61% | 3271 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,527 psi | 40% | 2060 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,365 psi | 65% | 3278 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,957 psi | 61% | 3281 fps | 99.5% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,091 psi | 68% | 3301 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,182 psi | 77% | 3383 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,640 psi | 65% | 3323 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,655 psi | 65% | 3274 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,253 psi | 74% | 3386 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 60% | 3212 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,103 psi | 63% | 3189 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,231 psi | 58% | 3166 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,416 psi | 81% | 3471 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,638 psi | 61% | 3192 fps | 96% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,972 psi | 61% | 3222 fps | 98.4% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,641 psi | 67% | 3337 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,340 psi | 73% | 3448 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,873 psi | 67% | 3353 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 86% | 51,430 psi | 81% | 3468 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 64% | 3281 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,571 psi | 71% | 3333 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,628 psi | 40% | 2103 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,094 psi | 74% | 3396 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 37.1 gr | 86% | 45,876 psi | 72% | 3481 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 36.8 gr | 84% | 34,867 psi | 55% | 3209 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,499 psi | 73% | 3471 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 66% | 3281 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,564 psi | 57% | 3130 fps | 95.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,914 psi | 63% | 3261 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 51,416 psi | 81% | 3471 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,043 psi | 60% | 3212 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,231 psi | 58% | 3166 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,908 psi | 78% | 3415 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 54,563 psi | 86% | 3182 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,852 psi | 83% | 3520 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,727 psi | 65% | 3330 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,400 psi | 77% | 3432 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,719 psi | 78% | 3438 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,147 psi | 64% | 3271 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,234 psi | 63% | 3176 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,098 psi | 52% | 2992 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,339 psi | 71% | 3373 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,856 psi | 62% | 3173 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,728 psi | 67% | 3294 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,915 psi | 64% | 3278 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,013 psi | 56% | 3228 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,701 psi | 72% | 3291 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,451 psi | 63% | 3186 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,665 psi | 56% | 3136 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,912 psi | 58% | 3143 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,376 psi | 57% | 3127 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,631 psi | 76% | 3455 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,742 psi | 65% | 3268 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,650 psi | 56% | 3114 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,906 psi | 75% | 3451 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,712 psi | 64% | 3232 fps | 95.9% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,060 psi | 64% | 3310 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,350 psi | 63% | 3268 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 89 powders for 5.6 x 57 R loaded with the .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,757 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,293 fps to 3,757 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 89 of the 89 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (440 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.223" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Alliant Reloder-17 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 Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 60, ReloadSwiss RS 52 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 57 R with the .223 | 55gr | Merlin Virtus 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.