Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with .224 | 50gr | Winchester Pointed Soft Point bullet and 38 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Alliant Reloder-16 and Somchem S365.
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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Max Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,269 psi | 88% | 3701 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,863 psi | 89% | 3730 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,777 psi | 90% | 3802 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,588 psi | 90% | 3750 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3714 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,224 psi | 86% | 3802 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,095 psi | 87% | 3835 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3809 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,356 psi | 88% | 3871 fps | 98.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,166 psi | 86% | 3717 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,718 psi | 87% | 3720 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,456 psi | 86% | 3724 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,679 psi | 65% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 3734 fps | 98.6% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3714 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3737 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3714 fps | 96.8% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,385 psi | 90% | 3783 fps | 99% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3783 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,747 psi | 87% | 3757 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,289 psi | 66% | 2674 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,514 psi | 86% | 3842 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,806 psi | 90% | 3812 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,704 psi | 88% | 3832 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,282 psi | 86% | 3714 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3714 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3737 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,965 psi | 89% | 3780 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 3632 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,616 psi | 86% | 3714 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,659 psi | 86% | 3789 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,066 psi | 89% | 3698 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,297 psi | 86% | 3707 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,864 psi | 90% | 3714 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3707 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 96% | 47,239 psi | 86% | 3766 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 3671 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,208 psi | 80% | 3839 fps | 99.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 25.6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 3100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,005 psi | 82% | 3629 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,716 psi | 83% | 3665 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,001 psi | 73% | 3560 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,555 psi | 79% | 3609 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,598 psi | 79% | 3635 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 46.4 gr | 84% | 38,667 psi | 70% | 3566 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,537 psi | 70% | 3586 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,418 psi | 62% | 3428 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 56.1 gr | 92% | 41,510 psi | 75% | 3691 fps | 95.9% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,092 psi | 80% | 3645 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H380 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 81% | 3648 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,533 psi | 61% | 3353 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,571 psi | 48% | 2359 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,759 psi | 83% | 3661 fps | 98% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,116 psi | 69% | 3491 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,977 psi | 83% | 3668 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,047 psi | 78% | 3573 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,267 psi | 84% | 3711 fps | 98.5% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,508 psi | 72% | 3550 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,715 psi | 81% | 3684 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,963 psi | 49% | 2415 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,959 psi | 74% | 3678 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,798 psi | 72% | 3570 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 86% | 42,148 psi | 76% | 3658 fps | 95.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,321 psi | 75% | 3570 fps | 97.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,047 psi | 78% | 3573 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,977 psi | 83% | 3668 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,670 psi | 77% | 3629 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,772 psi | 78% | 3504 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,727 psi | 76% | 3573 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem S365 | 45.1 gr | 80% | 30,864 psi | 56% | 3323 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,885 psi | 72% | 3484 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,350 psi | 75% | 3563 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,775 psi | 85% | 3652 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,843 psi | 74% | 3553 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,348 psi | 70% | 3540 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,549 psi | 65% | 3363 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,185 psi | 60% | 3468 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 38 powders for 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Winchester Pointed Soft Point. Alliant Reloder-26 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,871 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,615 fps to 3,871 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 38 of the 38 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (380 MPa), the top charges use 65–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:7.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23, 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. Alliant Reloder-26, Alliant Reloder-16, Somchem S365 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with the .224 | 50gr | Winchester Pointed Soft Point 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.