Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 57 with .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip 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, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR 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% | 57,043 psi | 89% | 3524 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,840 psi | 88% | 3540 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,753 psi | 87% | 3533 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 86% | 54,375 psi | 85% | 3547 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,448 psi | 87% | 3573 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,895 psi | 81% | 3560 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,144 psi | 88% | 3468 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 82% | 56,521 psi | 89% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,666 psi | 89% | 3612 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,580 psi | 90% | 3599 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 82% | 57,276 psi | 90% | 3599 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,390 psi | 87% | 3560 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,521 psi | 87% | 3556 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,217 psi | 90% | 3698 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3724 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,363 psi | 90% | 3632 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,232 psi | 90% | 3625 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,724 psi | 89% | 3543 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,418 psi | 85% | 3583 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Reloder-16ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,256 psi | 79% | 3560 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 98% | 54,853 psi | 86% | 3684 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 82% | 55,535 psi | 87% | 3438 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,579 psi | 89% | 3609 fps | 97.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 94% | 54,520 psi | 85% | 3579 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 88% | 57,566 psi | 90% | 3553 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,853 psi | 86% | 3583 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,666 psi | 89% | 3694 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,941 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,711 psi | 90% | 3599 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 94% | 55,767 psi | 87% | 3586 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 90% | 57,188 psi | 90% | 3629 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100Vᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,253 psi | 72% | 3415 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,347 psi | 88% | 3652 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,679 psi | 54% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,114 psi | 86% | 3570 fps | 98.9% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,391 psi | 88% | 3625 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,072 psi | 89% | 3586 fps | 98.5% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 84% | 56,333 psi | 88% | 3501 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,052 psi | 77% | 3478 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,782 psi | 87% | 3629 fps | 98.7% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,390 psi | 87% | 3560 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,869 psi | 88% | 3543 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,086 psi | 88% | 3583 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,449 psi | 88% | 3533 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,724 psi | 89% | 3586 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S065ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,361 psi | 87% | 3553 fps | 99.4% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,825 psi | 87% | 3566 fps | 100% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 94% | 57,072 psi | 89% | 3632 fps | 98.8% |
| Norma URPᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 50,995 psi | 80% | 3543 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,273 psi | 85% | 3589 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,376 psi | 88% | 3560 fps | 96.5% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,898 psi | 88% | 3593 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,826 psi | 89% | 3553 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,099 psi | 55% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 84% | 55,245 psi | 87% | 3553 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,534 psi | 85% | 3658 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,882 psi | 86% | 3704 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 51,706 psi | 81% | 3573 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 88% | 55,941 psi | 88% | 3550 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 92% | 55,477 psi | 87% | 3543 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,346 psi | 85% | 3566 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifleᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3556 fps | 96.3% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,086 psi | 88% | 3583 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 94% | 56,724 psi | 89% | 3586 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 54,984 psi | 86% | 3507 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 96% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3632 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 57,740 psi | 90% | 3573 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 88% | 54,534 psi | 85% | 3527 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 90% | 55,056 psi | 86% | 3566 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,811 psi | 89% | 3501 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 57,087 psi | 89% | 3491 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 86% | 57,072 psi | 89% | 3599 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,405 psi | 88% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 88% | 53,911 psi | 84% | 3524 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 96% | 54,549 psi | 85% | 3563 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,411 psi | 71% | 3471 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 86% | 56,289 psi | 88% | 3471 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 90% | 56,782 psi | 89% | 3488 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,766 psi | 86% | 3524 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 92% | 56,318 psi | 88% | 3537 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 98% | 56,492 psi | 89% | 3550 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N160ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,882 psi | 84% | 3553 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,057 psi | 88% | 3560 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 92% | 54,476 psi | 85% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 53,011 psi | 83% | 3553 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALLᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 54,897 psi | 86% | 3530 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 88% | 56,086 psi | 88% | 3615 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 90% | 54,853 psi | 86% | 3573 fps | 98.9% |
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% | 44,193 psi | 69% | 3287 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2460 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,849 psi | 77% | 3409 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 58% | 3163 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,772 psi | 69% | 3333 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,012 psi | 55% | 3127 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,979 psi | 75% | 3481 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate LT-30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,779 psi | 83% | 3409 fps | 100% |
| Accurate LT-32 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,142 psi | 83% | 3435 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,901 psi | 64% | 3271 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,005 psi | 71% | 3346 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2219 | <<locked>> | 80% | 53,722 psi | 84% | 3537 fps | 100% |
| ADI Benchmark 8208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,902 psi | 67% | 3297 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,279 psi | 66% | 3320 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 1200-R | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,821 psi | 78% | 3550 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR | 38.3 gr | 86% | 45,556 psi | 71% | 3484 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Power Pro Varmint | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,350 psi | 65% | 3291 fps | 96% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,899 psi | 61% | 3232 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-10x | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,951 psi | 78% | 3425 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,759 psi | 70% | 3379 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,210 psi | 74% | 3491 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 90% | 41,524 psi | 65% | 3379 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 106 | <<locked>> | 80% | 52,011 psi | 82% | 3379 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 107 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,963 psi | 72% | 3392 fps | 95.4% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,406 psi | 60% | 3225 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Benchmark | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,875 psi | 70% | 3304 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,669 psi | 65% | 3304 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon CFE223 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,629 psi | 72% | 3465 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon H322 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,168 psi | 77% | 3451 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon H335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,227 psi | 79% | 3468 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,718 psi | 76% | 3445 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,234 psi | 65% | 3287 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,625 psi | 64% | 3281 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,217 psi | 58% | 3225 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,773 psi | 40% | 2060 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,668 psi | 62% | 3228 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,379 psi | 63% | 3310 fps | 99.7% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 86% | 44,034 psi | 69% | 3320 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 80% | 49,951 psi | 78% | 3392 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 98% | 45,934 psi | 72% | 3415 fps | 95.4% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,033 psi | 67% | 3356 fps | 95.9% |
| IMR 8208 XBR | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,902 psi | 67% | 3297 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex D073.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,486 psi | 76% | 3406 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 62% | 3245 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,321 psi | 65% | 3212 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 57% | 3130 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,489 psi | 82% | 3484 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,132 psi | 63% | 3228 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,045 psi | 63% | 3238 fps | 98.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,379 psi | 65% | 3301 fps | 95.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 98% | 47,747 psi | 75% | 3478 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,176 psi | 65% | 3304 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot TAC | <<locked>> | 86% | 52,692 psi | 83% | 3488 fps | 95.7% |
| Ramshot Wild Boar | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,366 psi | 66% | 3307 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot X-Terminator | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 73% | 3346 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,933 psi | 41% | 2106 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 40 | <<locked>> | 80% | 48,037 psi | 75% | 3412 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | 36.3 gr | 84% | 43,947 psi | 69% | 3432 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 36 gr | 82% | 33,663 psi | 53% | 3163 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,022 psi | 75% | 3501 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 901 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,714 psi | 69% | 3304 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,087 psi | 60% | 3163 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,595 psi | 60% | 3222 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 98% | 52,489 psi | 82% | 3484 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,610 psi | 62% | 3245 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,260 psi | 57% | 3130 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Tactical Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 51,213 psi | 80% | 3438 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,699 psi | 67% | 3350 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 50,720 psi | 79% | 3455 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 7 | <<locked>> | 86% | 50,778 psi | 80% | 3455 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,090 psi | 66% | 3287 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 3000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,553 psi | 65% | 3202 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,316 psi | 54% | 3022 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S321 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,398 psi | 73% | 3389 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S335 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,234 psi | 65% | 3199 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,727 psi | 64% | 3238 fps | 95% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 86% | 39,450 psi | 62% | 3232 fps | 95.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,101 psi | 58% | 3255 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N130 | <<locked>> | 80% | 47,021 psi | 74% | 3310 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 65% | 3209 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,115 psi | 58% | 3166 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,913 psi | 59% | 3159 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,346 psi | 55% | 3094 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,934 psi | 74% | 3412 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N530 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,091 psi | 68% | 3294 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,680 psi | 57% | 3136 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 96% | 46,354 psi | 73% | 3412 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,914 psi | 61% | 3179 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester 748 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,424 psi | 66% | 3340 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester StaBALL Match | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,841 psi | 61% | 3222 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 89 powders for 5.6 x 57 loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint. Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,724 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,293 fps to 3,724 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 0.224" calls for a 1:10.5 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, Alliant Power Pro 2000-MR, ReloadSwiss RS 52 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 57 with the .224 | 55gr | Nosler Ballistic Tip 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.