Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 57 with .224 | 50gr | Sierra Tipped VarmintKing bullet and 81 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 52, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR and ReloadSwiss RS 60.
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>> | 90% | 57,493 psi | 90% | 3665 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,188 psi | 90% | 3773 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3681 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,695 psi | 87% | 3671 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,404 psi | 85% | 3675 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,332 psi | 87% | 3704 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,695 psi | 89% | 3612 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,058 psi | 89% | 3635 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,942 psi | 89% | 3743 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,476 psi | 85% | 3665 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,157 psi | 85% | 3681 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,202 psi | 88% | 3701 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,608 psi | 87% | 3701 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,450 psi | 90% | 3839 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,956 psi | 89% | 3858 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,624 psi | 90% | 3763 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3763 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,898 psi | 89% | 3688 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,534 psi | 85% | 3711 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,158 psi | 86% | 3809 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,536 psi | 89% | 3583 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,508 psi | 90% | 3750 fps | 97.3% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,433 psi | 85% | 3704 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,795 psi | 86% | 3632 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,317 psi | 87% | 3720 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,377 psi | 90% | 3835 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,391 psi | 88% | 3720 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,549 psi | 85% | 3678 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3717 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,435 psi | 90% | 3760 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,666 psi | 89% | 3783 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,360 psi | 54% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,477 psi | 87% | 3701 fps | 98.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3766 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,392 psi | 90% | 3714 fps | 97.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,768 psi | 89% | 3652 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,898 psi | 88% | 3757 fps | 98% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,202 psi | 88% | 3701 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,521 psi | 89% | 3684 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,536 psi | 89% | 3724 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,058 psi | 89% | 3671 fps | 98.2% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,942 psi | 89% | 3714 fps | 99.1% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,666 psi | 89% | 3658 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,666 psi | 87% | 3688 fps | 98.9% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,086 psi | 88% | 3704 fps | 99.9% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,566 psi | 90% | 3770 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,520 psi | 85% | 3717 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,463 psi | 88% | 3727 fps | 98% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,667 psi | 90% | 3691 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,708 psi | 54% | 2448 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,695 psi | 87% | 3691 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,752 psi | 86% | 3789 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,781 psi | 86% | 3825 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3691 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,796 psi | 87% | 3678 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,244 psi | 85% | 3688 fps | 98.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,536 psi | 89% | 3724 fps | 99.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,942 psi | 89% | 3714 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,477 psi | 87% | 3642 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3343 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,984 psi | 86% | 3688 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,579 psi | 89% | 3763 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,302 psi | 85% | 3655 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,651 psi | 87% | 3701 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,508 psi | 90% | 3642 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,595 psi | 90% | 3625 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,725 psi | 90% | 3737 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,826 psi | 89% | 3635 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,404 psi | 85% | 3652 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,592 psi | 86% | 3688 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 42,264 psi | 66% | 3507 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,942 psi | 89% | 3622 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,334 psi | 90% | 3632 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,926 psi | 86% | 3661 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,565 psi | 89% | 3671 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,608 psi | 89% | 3675 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,927 psi | 89% | 3704 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,056 psi | 86% | 3655 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,025 psi | 82% | 3586 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,130 psi | 88% | 3747 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,347 psi | 87% | 3707 fps | 98.4% |
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>> | 80% | 41,742 psi | 65% | 3363 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,679 psi | 84% | 3701 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,629 psi | 72% | 3468 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,301 psi | 54% | 3209 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,017 psi | 64% | 3389 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,358 psi | 51% | 3163 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,082 psi | 78% | 3491 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,430 psi | 79% | 3510 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,787 psi | 69% | 3461 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 92% | 48,167 psi | 75% | 3533 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,792 psi | 80% | 3615 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,611 psi | 64% | 3356 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,494 psi | 62% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,862 psi | 73% | 3612 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 40.3 gr | 90% | 49,371 psi | 77% | 3691 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,251 psi | 69% | 3481 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,452 psi | 65% | 3415 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,355 psi | 74% | 3514 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,080 psi | 75% | 3573 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 94% | 44,860 psi | 70% | 3576 fps | 95.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,588 psi | 78% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,705 psi | 78% | 3596 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,191 psi | 65% | 3412 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,337 psi | 66% | 3363 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,059 psi | 61% | 3356 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,298 psi | 77% | 3671 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,050 psi | 72% | 3517 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,384 psi | 74% | 3537 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 52,388 psi | 82% | 3638 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,092 psi | 69% | 3478 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,917 psi | 67% | 3491 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,251 psi | 40% | 2146 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,540 psi | 67% | 3419 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,434 psi | 59% | 3360 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,543 psi | 75% | 3517 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,601 psi | 75% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,905 psi | 72% | 3543 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,611 psi | 64% | 3356 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 72% | 3468 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,014 psi | 58% | 3294 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,425 psi | 70% | 3406 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,783 psi | 61% | 3314 fps | 95% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,258 psi | 83% | 3596 fps | 100% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,059 psi | 63% | 3343 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,695 psi | 59% | 3301 fps | 97.2% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,106 psi | 69% | 3484 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,326 psi | 74% | 3566 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,876 psi | 72% | 3507 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,077 psi | 69% | 3409 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,643 psi | 40% | 2201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,498 psi | 71% | 3481 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 38.2 gr | 88% | 47,152 psi | 74% | 3632 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 38 gr | 86% | 36,419 psi | 57% | 3356 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,408 psi | 65% | 3373 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,770 psi | 64% | 3350 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,408 psi | 65% | 3406 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,014 psi | 58% | 3294 fps | 96.2% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,783 psi | 61% | 3314 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,515 psi | 76% | 3504 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,388 psi | 84% | 3297 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,329 psi | 80% | 3619 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 92% | 46,108 psi | 72% | 3547 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,659 psi | 75% | 3527 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 86% | 45,585 psi | 71% | 3491 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 61% | 3258 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,126 psi | 50% | 3071 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,758 psi | 69% | 3448 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,754 psi | 61% | 3261 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,106 psi | 69% | 3435 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,061 psi | 66% | 3415 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 98% | 39,610 psi | 62% | 3435 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,338 psi | 69% | 3386 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,189 psi | 61% | 3274 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,476 psi | 54% | 3219 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 56% | 3219 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,753 psi | 59% | 3271 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,364 psi | 63% | 3343 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,490 psi | 54% | 3186 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 42,337 psi | 66% | 3369 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,392 psi | 62% | 3383 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,047 psi | 66% | 3419 fps | 95.2% |
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 81 powders for 5.6 x 57 loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Sierra Tipped VarmintKing. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,858 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,392 fps to 3,858 fps. Alliant Reloder-17 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 81 of the 81 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 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. ReloadSwiss RS 52, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 60 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 57 with the .224 | 50gr | Sierra Tipped VarmintKing 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.