Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 39 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-26, Winchester StaBALL HD and Alliant Reloder-16.
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% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 3612 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,992 psi | 85% | 3619 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,559 psi | 90% | 3632 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,863 psi | 87% | 3701 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,689 psi | 88% | 3724 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,458 psi | 90% | 3714 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,195 psi | 84% | 3661 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,574 psi | 90% | 3783 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,226 psi | 89% | 3678 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,283 psi | 88% | 3619 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,095 psi | 89% | 3691 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,013 psi | 65% | 2520 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,878 psi | 89% | 3602 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,761 psi | 87% | 3619 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3612 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 3579 fps | 96.3% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 3560 fps | 97% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3724 fps | 96.4% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,414 psi | 90% | 3681 fps | 98.8% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,472 psi | 88% | 3661 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,695 psi | 67% | 2575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,022 psi | 87% | 3730 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,905 psi | 85% | 3632 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,037 psi | 89% | 3730 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,921 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3612 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 3579 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,284 psi | 89% | 3665 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3504 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,892 psi | 89% | 3540 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,109 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 48,776 psi | 89% | 3688 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 49,168 psi | 89% | 3579 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,921 psi | 87% | 3606 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,253 psi | 86% | 3602 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,385 psi | 88% | 3678 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 3560 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,226 psi | 89% | 3678 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,124 psi | 89% | 3845 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>> | 92% | 42,569 psi | 77% | 3461 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,652 psi | 68% | 3383 fps | 95.7% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,485 psi | 84% | 3563 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 44.7 gr | 80% | 36,477 psi | 66% | 3396 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,989 psi | 76% | 3566 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,895 psi | 60% | 3274 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,350 psi | 73% | 3504 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 54.3 gr | 88% | 39,218 psi | 71% | 3520 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,818 psi | 83% | 3599 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,011 psi | 62% | 3261 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon Superformance | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,629 psi | 83% | 3612 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,963 psi | 49% | 2274 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,934 psi | 83% | 3537 fps | 95.5% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,158 psi | 66% | 3320 fps | 95.3% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 74% | 3399 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,367 psi | 81% | 3507 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,785 psi | 74% | 3415 fps | 95.1% |
| Norma MRP | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,034 psi | 82% | 3638 fps | 95.3% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,376 psi | 68% | 3379 fps | 95.5% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,076 psi | 76% | 3507 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,412 psi | 50% | 2326 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,614 psi | 81% | 3652 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,637 psi | 68% | 3396 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,334 psi | 71% | 3478 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,585 psi | 81% | 3530 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,538 psi | 74% | 3399 fps | 95.4% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,367 psi | 81% | 3507 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,948 psi | 83% | 3589 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,643 psi | 83% | 3445 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,571 psi | 83% | 3465 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,831 psi | 81% | 3533 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,939 psi | 62% | 3320 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,873 psi | 78% | 3442 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,798 psi | 70% | 3383 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,450 psi | 70% | 3379 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,622 psi | 66% | 3379 fps | 96% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,377 psi | 70% | 3343 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,818 psi | 83% | 3599 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 52.2 gr | 88% | 31,589 psi | 57% | 3317 fps | 96.2% |
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 39 powders for 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,845 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,520 fps to 3,845 fps. Alliant Reloder-25 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 39 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. 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, Winchester StaBALL HD, Alliant Reloder-16 rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady 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.