Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with .224 | 53gr | Norma Soft Point bullet and 35 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 Winchester StaBALL HD.
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>> | 96% | 47,790 psi | 87% | 3625 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,936 psi | 89% | 3707 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3658 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 3684 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,850 psi | 90% | 3793 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,369 psi | 86% | 3743 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,051 psi | 87% | 3730 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 44,976 psi | 82% | 3671 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3793 fps | 98.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,835 psi | 90% | 3701 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,007 psi | 85% | 3642 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,882 psi | 65% | 2556 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 90% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 3704 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 3629 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3671 fps | 96.5% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,440 psi | 82% | 3573 fps | 96.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,167 psi | 87% | 3698 fps | 98.3% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,239 psi | 86% | 3675 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,535 psi | 66% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 3750 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3727 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,776 psi | 87% | 3743 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 3629 fps | 99.4% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,211 psi | 87% | 3629 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,501 psi | 90% | 3671 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3684 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,732 psi | 87% | 3533 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3629 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,355 psi | 86% | 3707 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,066 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,746 psi | 85% | 3625 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,400 psi | 90% | 3694 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,978 psi | 85% | 3691 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,456 psi | 84% | 3583 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,166 psi | 86% | 3855 fps | 100% |
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>> | 94% | 44,599 psi | 81% | 3550 fps | 96% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,494 psi | 72% | 3481 fps | 96% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,498 psi | 83% | 3586 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 84% | 3619 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 45.8 gr | 82% | 38,043 psi | 69% | 3484 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,857 psi | 74% | 3583 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,171 psi | 62% | 3356 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,134 psi | 76% | 3596 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 54.3 gr | 88% | 38,029 psi | 69% | 3520 fps | 95.1% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,354 psi | 84% | 3625 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,083 psi | 60% | 3278 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,847 psi | 49% | 2310 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 82% | 37,869 psi | 69% | 3412 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,496 psi | 77% | 3491 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,180 psi | 84% | 3596 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 42,409 psi | 77% | 3501 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,189 psi | 71% | 3471 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 86% | 43,990 psi | 80% | 3599 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,282 psi | 50% | 2362 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 79% | 3671 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,363 psi | 71% | 3488 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,379 psi | 75% | 3576 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,497 psi | 79% | 3553 fps | 98.9% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 82% | 42,496 psi | 77% | 3491 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,180 psi | 84% | 3596 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,846 psi | 81% | 3612 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,686 psi | 81% | 3474 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,801 psi | 79% | 3553 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,938 psi | 60% | 3330 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,872 psi | 76% | 3465 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 69% | 3396 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,248 psi | 73% | 3471 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,505 psi | 64% | 3389 fps | 95.1% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,463 psi | 68% | 3356 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 53.4 gr | 90% | 32,967 psi | 60% | 3406 fps | 96.6% |
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 35 powders for 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe loaded with the .224 | 53gr | Norma Soft Point. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,855 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,556 fps to 3,855 fps. Alliant Reloder-25 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 35 of the 35 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 53.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:12.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-25, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Lovex S071 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, Winchester StaBALL HD rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with the .224 | 53gr | Norma 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.