Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 70 R with .224 | 50gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB bullet and 7 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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: 23.62"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,518 psi | 86% | 3005 fps | 97% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,895 psi | 87% | 3061 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,156 psi | 88% | 2218 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,852 psi | 90% | 3094 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,083 psi | 88% | 2264 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,011 psi | 90% | 2966 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,982 psi | 87% | 3022 fps | 97.1% |
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 2495 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,992 psi | 74% | 2871 fps | 95% |
| Alliant AR-Comp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,908 psi | 82% | 3002 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 9.1 gr | 80% | 24,337 psi | 65% | 1991 fps | 100% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,488 psi | 84% | 3018 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 9.3 gr | 80% | 24,395 psi | 65% | 2037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N133 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,995 psi | 85% | 2913 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,790 psi | 76% | 2894 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 7 powders for 5.6 x 70 R loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB. IMR 3031 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,094 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,218 fps to 3,094 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 7 of the 7 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (260 MPa), the top charges use 86–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:9.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. 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. ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for 5.6 x 70 R with the .224 | 50gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB 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.