Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 57 with .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint bullet and 89 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 60, ReloadSwiss RS 52 and Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
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>> | 86% | 54,128 psi | 85% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,782 psi | 89% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,304 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,926 psi | 86% | 3560 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,507 psi | 89% | 3593 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,779 psi | 83% | 3579 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,710 psi | 89% | 3478 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,087 psi | 89% | 3507 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,087 psi | 89% | 3625 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,013 psi | 86% | 3556 fps | 98% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,608 psi | 89% | 3573 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 82% | 53,867 psi | 84% | 3638 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3747 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,433 psi | 85% | 3579 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,621 psi | 86% | 3579 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,377 psi | 90% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,303 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,995 psi | 80% | 3579 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 55,593 psi | 87% | 3701 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,391 psi | 88% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,392 psi | 90% | 3629 fps | 98.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,492 psi | 87% | 3596 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,694 psi | 86% | 3507 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,738 psi | 87% | 3602 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,653 psi | 90% | 3714 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3589 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,360 psi | 85% | 3543 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,623 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,696 psi | 90% | 3642 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,007 psi | 74% | 3432 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,246 psi | 90% | 3668 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,838 psi | 55% | 2303 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,593 psi | 87% | 3579 fps | 99% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,058 psi | 89% | 3638 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,070 psi | 85% | 3533 fps | 98.1% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,000 psi | 89% | 3514 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,850 psi | 78% | 3501 fps | 96.6% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,695 psi | 89% | 3648 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,811 psi | 89% | 3563 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,087 psi | 89% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,927 psi | 89% | 3547 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,188 psi | 90% | 3596 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,623 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,811 psi | 87% | 3563 fps | 99.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,462 psi | 85% | 3586 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,822 psi | 81% | 3563 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,129 psi | 86% | 3606 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,159 psi | 90% | 3576 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3602 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,682 psi | 90% | 3573 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,259 psi | 55% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,782 psi | 87% | 3566 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,564 psi | 87% | 3678 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,666 psi | 87% | 3720 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,533 psi | 82% | 3593 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 52,852 psi | 83% | 3615 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,536 psi | 89% | 3563 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3566 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,810 psi | 86% | 3576 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,623 psi | 89% | 3566 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,087 psi | 89% | 3602 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,188 psi | 90% | 3596 fps | 99.6% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,477 psi | 87% | 3520 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,145 psi | 90% | 3652 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,781 psi | 86% | 3527 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,361 psi | 87% | 3547 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,883 psi | 88% | 3586 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,230 psi | 85% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,447 psi | 85% | 3448 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 84% | 54,128 psi | 85% | 3547 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,826 psi | 89% | 3507 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,781 psi | 86% | 3540 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 55,448 psi | 87% | 3583 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,166 psi | 72% | 3491 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,319 psi | 90% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,288 psi | 85% | 3451 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3540 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3553 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 57,377 psi | 90% | 3566 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,694 psi | 86% | 3570 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,014 psi | 89% | 3579 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,288 psi | 87% | 3533 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,838 psi | 84% | 3570 fps | 97% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 55,970 psi | 88% | 3550 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,594 psi | 89% | 3629 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,753 psi | 87% | 3593 fps | 99.1% |
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% | 44,788 psi | 70% | 3301 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,385 psi | 77% | 3422 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,710 psi | 59% | 3179 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 69% | 3350 fps | 99% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 56% | 3143 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,614 psi | 71% | 3428 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,953 psi | 83% | 3415 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,272 psi | 83% | 3442 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,408 psi | 65% | 3287 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,714 psi | 67% | 3294 fps | 95% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,410 psi | 68% | 3314 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,960 psi | 67% | 3333 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,502 psi | 79% | 3566 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 38.8 gr | 86% | 46,354 psi | 73% | 3510 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,887 psi | 66% | 3304 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,363 psi | 62% | 3245 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,589 psi | 79% | 3438 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,540 psi | 67% | 3327 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,701 psi | 70% | 3432 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,407 psi | 62% | 3320 fps | 95.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,823 psi | 83% | 3396 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,760 psi | 73% | 3415 fps | 95.8% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,204 psi | 61% | 3245 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,382 psi | 71% | 3317 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,134 psi | 66% | 3317 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,122 psi | 72% | 3478 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,763 psi | 78% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,720 psi | 79% | 3478 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,516 psi | 78% | 3465 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,756 psi | 65% | 3304 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,988 psi | 64% | 3294 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,681 psi | 59% | 3238 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,715 psi | 40% | 2064 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,161 psi | 63% | 3245 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,669 psi | 64% | 3317 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,814 psi | 66% | 3268 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,633 psi | 79% | 3409 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 46,383 psi | 73% | 3425 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,596 psi | 64% | 3294 fps | 95.2% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,410 psi | 68% | 3314 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,400 psi | 77% | 3425 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,147 psi | 63% | 3261 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,771 psi | 65% | 3228 fps | 95.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,753 psi | 58% | 3146 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,301 psi | 84% | 3504 fps | 95.7% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,654 psi | 64% | 3241 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 64% | 3255 fps | 98.7% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,858 psi | 66% | 3314 fps | 95.6% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,194 psi | 71% | 3419 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,611 psi | 65% | 3317 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 84% | 50,038 psi | 78% | 3438 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,830 psi | 67% | 3320 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,282 psi | 74% | 3369 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,875 psi | 41% | 2110 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,979 psi | 77% | 3435 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 36.7 gr | 84% | 44,469 psi | 70% | 3448 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 36.4 gr | 82% | 34,069 psi | 53% | 3179 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,776 psi | 76% | 3517 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,211 psi | 77% | 3533 fps | 95.1% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,295 psi | 69% | 3320 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,566 psi | 60% | 3179 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,059 psi | 61% | 3235 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 53,301 psi | 84% | 3504 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,147 psi | 63% | 3261 fps | 98.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,753 psi | 58% | 3146 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,721 psi | 81% | 3451 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,538 psi | 64% | 3297 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,010 psi | 80% | 3458 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,124 psi | 75% | 3402 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,859 psi | 67% | 3310 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,756 psi | 65% | 3209 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,534 psi | 54% | 3025 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,239 psi | 74% | 3409 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,742 psi | 65% | 3215 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 65% | 3258 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,958 psi | 63% | 3245 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,447 psi | 56% | 3212 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,224 psi | 74% | 3317 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,930 psi | 66% | 3215 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,405 psi | 59% | 3176 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 60% | 3176 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,824 psi | 56% | 3107 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,688 psi | 75% | 3432 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,598 psi | 68% | 3310 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 58% | 3146 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,123 psi | 74% | 3428 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 39,436 psi | 62% | 3196 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,917 psi | 67% | 3350 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,291 psi | 62% | 3235 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 89 powders for 5.6 x 57 loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,747 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,303 fps to 3,747 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 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 60, ReloadSwiss RS 52, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 57 with the .224 | 55gr | Berger FB 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.