Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 61 R SE v. Hofe with .224 | 55gr | MEN SP 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 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% | 48,486 psi | 88% | 3599 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,545 psi | 90% | 3678 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,081 psi | 89% | 3622 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 82% | 49,734 psi | 90% | 3652 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,094 psi | 85% | 3684 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 84% | 47,906 psi | 87% | 3711 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 98% | 48,733 psi | 88% | 3701 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Reloder-25ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,368 psi | 82% | 3642 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3760 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3661 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,500 psi | 86% | 3606 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,027 psi | 65% | 2516 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3596 fps | 96.1% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,021 psi | 85% | 3602 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3596 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3570 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S071ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,774 psi | 83% | 3537 fps | 96.7% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,675 psi | 88% | 3665 fps | 98.6% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,805 psi | 87% | 3648 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,695 psi | 67% | 2572 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,239 psi | 86% | 3711 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 88% | 49,676 psi | 90% | 3694 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 3714 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,123 psi | 86% | 3589 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,588 psi | 88% | 3596 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,876 psi | 85% | 3570 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,530 psi | 88% | 3652 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,254 psi | 88% | 3497 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,254 psi | 88% | 3527 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 82% | 47,340 psi | 86% | 3589 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,964 psi | 87% | 3671 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 48,399 psi | 88% | 3566 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 86% | 47,166 psi | 86% | 3589 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,804 psi | 85% | 3593 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 94% | 47,601 psi | 86% | 3661 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 86% | 46,963 psi | 85% | 3550 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,501 psi | 88% | 3661 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HDᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,863 psi | 87% | 3825 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% | 41,916 psi | 76% | 3445 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,144 psi | 67% | 3369 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,021 psi | 84% | 3553 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 46,296 psi | 84% | 3576 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-16 | 44.2 gr | 80% | 36,056 psi | 65% | 3383 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,278 psi | 75% | 3553 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Reloder-23 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,343 psi | 59% | 3255 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-25 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,798 psi | 72% | 3488 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Reloder-26 | 53.7 gr | 88% | 38,638 psi | 70% | 3501 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon H414 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,136 psi | 82% | 3583 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,562 psi | 61% | 3248 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,876 psi | 49% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4451 Enduron | <<locked>> | 82% | 45,527 psi | 83% | 3527 fps | 95.3% |
| IMR 4831 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 65% | 3310 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S065 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 73% | 3386 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S070 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,714 psi | 79% | 3491 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S071 | <<locked>> | 98% | 43,018 psi | 78% | 3471 fps | 95.8% |
| Norma URP | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,927 psi | 67% | 3366 fps | 95.2% |
| Ramshot Hunter | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,408 psi | 75% | 3491 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,325 psi | 50% | 2320 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,830 psi | 80% | 3635 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 62 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,159 psi | 67% | 3386 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 70 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,986 psi | 71% | 3468 fps | 95.3% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,077 psi | 80% | 3517 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Long Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,118 psi | 73% | 3386 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World SW4350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,714 psi | 79% | 3491 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,484 psi | 83% | 3579 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,165 psi | 82% | 3435 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 7000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,208 psi | 82% | 3455 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 80% | 3524 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,272 psi | 60% | 3301 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,409 psi | 77% | 3432 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N160 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 70% | 3369 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N550 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,014 psi | 69% | 3369 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N555 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,897 psi | 65% | 3360 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,811 psi | 69% | 3327 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 760 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,368 psi | 82% | 3589 fps | 95.3% |
| Winchester StaBALL HD | 51.6 gr | 88% | 31,067 psi | 56% | 3294 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 | 55gr | MEN SP. Winchester StaBALL HD delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,825 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,516 fps to 3,825 fps. Alliant Reloder-25 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 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:7.5 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 | 55gr | MEN SP 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.