Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 57 with .224 | 52gr | Berger Varmint bullet and 83 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% | 56,188 psi | 88% | 3593 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,839 psi | 86% | 3602 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,578 psi | 86% | 3596 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,174 psi | 90% | 3675 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,259 psi | 85% | 3632 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,792 psi | 80% | 3609 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,230 psi | 87% | 3533 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,593 psi | 87% | 3560 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,622 psi | 87% | 3671 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,521 psi | 89% | 3658 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,420 psi | 88% | 3668 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,491 psi | 85% | 3622 fps | 99% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,491 psi | 85% | 3625 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,825 psi | 87% | 3757 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,506 psi | 87% | 3783 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,434 psi | 88% | 3691 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,608 psi | 87% | 3612 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,130 psi | 90% | 3714 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 57,740 psi | 90% | 3812 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,694 psi | 86% | 3504 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,753 psi | 87% | 3671 fps | 97.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3704 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,724 psi | 89% | 3619 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,143 psi | 85% | 3645 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3757 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,129 psi | 86% | 3645 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,681 psi | 89% | 3665 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,969 psi | 86% | 3645 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,144 psi | 88% | 3691 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,484 psi | 71% | 3468 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,477 psi | 87% | 3711 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,635 psi | 54% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,566 psi | 90% | 3694 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,347 psi | 87% | 3691 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3642 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,448 psi | 87% | 3573 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,708 psi | 86% | 3684 fps | 98.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,491 psi | 85% | 3622 fps | 99% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,781 psi | 86% | 3606 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,317 psi | 87% | 3648 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,187 psi | 86% | 3589 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,608 psi | 87% | 3642 fps | 99.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,418 psi | 85% | 3615 fps | 99% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,824 psi | 86% | 3632 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,275 psi | 88% | 3698 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3717 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,651 psi | 87% | 3622 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,781 psi | 86% | 3648 fps | 98.1% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,246 psi | 88% | 3622 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,998 psi | 55% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,027 psi | 85% | 3612 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,334 psi | 90% | 3789 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,377 psi | 90% | 3829 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,129 psi | 86% | 3615 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,505 psi | 85% | 3602 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,029 psi | 89% | 3694 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,317 psi | 87% | 3648 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,608 psi | 87% | 3642 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,114 psi | 85% | 3570 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,174 psi | 90% | 3675 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,332 psi | 87% | 3691 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,594 psi | 89% | 3642 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3661 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,012 psi | 85% | 3622 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3566 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,028 psi | 88% | 3553 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,405 psi | 88% | 3665 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,506 psi | 87% | 3563 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,956 psi | 89% | 3652 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,261 psi | 90% | 3691 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,541 psi | 70% | 3520 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 55,622 psi | 87% | 3547 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,941 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,290 psi | 90% | 3645 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,245 psi | 87% | 3596 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,593 psi | 87% | 3612 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,881 psi | 83% | 3609 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,114 psi | 86% | 3622 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,595 psi | 90% | 3648 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,025 psi | 82% | 3602 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,201 psi | 85% | 3586 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,969 psi | 86% | 3675 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,114 psi | 85% | 3635 fps | 98.6% |
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% | 43,381 psi | 68% | 3350 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,674 psi | 75% | 3461 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 57% | 3212 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,018 psi | 67% | 3392 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,185 psi | 54% | 3173 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,007 psi | 74% | 3527 fps | 95% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,924 psi | 81% | 3478 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,272 psi | 82% | 3501 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,931 psi | 67% | 3392 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,065 psi | 74% | 3465 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,547 psi | 82% | 3599 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,047 psi | 66% | 3350 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,307 psi | 65% | 3379 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,747 psi | 76% | 3606 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 40 gr | 88% | 48,211 psi | 76% | 3619 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,683 psi | 64% | 3346 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,066 psi | 77% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,005 psi | 69% | 3435 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 40,901 psi | 64% | 3425 fps | 95% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,314 psi | 80% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,660 psi | 76% | 3527 fps | 95.7% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,495 psi | 63% | 3346 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 69% | 3360 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,901 psi | 64% | 3356 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 70% | 3517 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,138 psi | 75% | 3514 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,385 psi | 77% | 3530 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 92% | 51,169 psi | 80% | 3566 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,350 psi | 63% | 3337 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,337 psi | 66% | 3392 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,957 psi | 61% | 3343 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,599 psi | 40% | 2119 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 82% | 41,684 psi | 65% | 3353 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,465 psi | 62% | 3363 fps | 99.4% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,151 psi | 72% | 3442 fps | 95.8% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,226 psi | 77% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,003 psi | 66% | 3402 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,047 psi | 66% | 3350 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,674 psi | 75% | 3465 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 61% | 3297 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 82% | 43,105 psi | 68% | 3330 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,811 psi | 59% | 3241 fps | 95.2% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,320 psi | 62% | 3274 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 62% | 3301 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,265 psi | 68% | 3415 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,294 psi | 68% | 3428 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,127 psi | 82% | 3550 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 82% | 44,628 psi | 70% | 3432 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,803 psi | 72% | 3406 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,715 psi | 40% | 2165 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,398 psi | 74% | 3478 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 37.9 gr | 86% | 46,311 psi | 73% | 3563 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 37.6 gr | 84% | 35,447 psi | 56% | 3284 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,902 psi | 67% | 3360 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,740 psi | 62% | 3278 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,364 psi | 63% | 3337 fps | 95.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 61% | 3297 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,811 psi | 59% | 3241 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,473 psi | 79% | 3501 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,403 psi | 84% | 3606 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 90% | 44,846 psi | 70% | 3471 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,806 psi | 78% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,154 psi | 79% | 3514 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,353 psi | 70% | 3419 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,828 psi | 64% | 3258 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,649 psi | 53% | 3071 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,614 psi | 71% | 3445 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,422 psi | 63% | 3255 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,873 psi | 67% | 3360 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,307 psi | 65% | 3350 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,521 psi | 57% | 3304 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,224 psi | 72% | 3373 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,973 psi | 64% | 3268 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,303 psi | 57% | 3219 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,376 psi | 59% | 3219 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,072 psi | 58% | 3209 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,211 psi | 77% | 3533 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,177 psi | 66% | 3346 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,129 psi | 57% | 3186 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,486 psi | 76% | 3527 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,973 psi | 64% | 3297 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,321 psi | 65% | 3386 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,944 psi | 64% | 3346 fps | 95.4% |
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 83 powders for 5.6 x 57 loaded with the .224 | 52gr | Berger Varmint. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,829 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,359 fps to 3,829 fps. Accurate 4350 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 83 of the 83 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 52.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-17, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 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 with the .224 | 52gr | Berger 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.