Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.6 x 70 R with .224 | 78gr | Barnes TSX BT bullet and 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,663 psi | 89% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 98% | 33,924 psi | 90% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,707 psi | 89% | 2608 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,793 psi | 87% | 2477 fps | 96.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 8.4 gr | 80% | 25,570 psi | 68% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 8.5 gr | 80% | 25,483 psi | 68% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 78% | 2484 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 82% | 30,690 psi | 81% | 2425 fps | 95.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
This overview compares 22 powders for 5.6 x 70 R loaded with the .224 | 78gr | Barnes TSX BT. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,608 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,768 fps to 2,608 fps. Alliant Reloder-23 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 22 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (260 MPa), the top charges use 84–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 78.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:7.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Alliant Reloder-23 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 | 78gr | Barnes TSX BT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, Alliant Reloder-17 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.