Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB bullet and 66 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori 3N38, Vihtavuori N105 and ADI AP 100.
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 ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 4.8"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,872 psi | 82% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,656 psi | 85% | 1696 fps | 93.9% |
| Accurate No. 9* | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 83% | 1670 fps | 87.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,252 psi | 90% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,554 psi | 85% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM* | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,466 psi | 83% | 1667 fps | 89.4% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,020 psi | 90% | 1677 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,350 psi | 81% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,452 psi | 83% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,237 psi | 88% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,814 psi | 84% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,266 psi | 90% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,266 psi | 90% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,338 psi | 89% | 1716 fps | 93.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,295 psi | 89% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,757 psi | 85% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,947 psi | 90% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,119 psi | 84% | 1673 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,888 psi | 86% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,394 psi | 83% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,831 psi | 90% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,047 psi | 84% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,541 psi | 89% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,527 psi | 89% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,627 psi | 85% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,453 psi | 85% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,509 psi | 43% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,119 psi | 84% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,656 psi | 85% | 1696 fps | 93.9% |
| Lovex D037.2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,018 psi | 86% | 1693 fps | 88.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,713 psi | 83% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,134 psi | 86% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,685 psi | 87% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,991 psi | 90% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,454 psi | 89% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,511 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,670 psi | 85% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,901 psi | 82% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,830 psi | 86% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,842 psi | 42% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,295 psi | 89% | 1706 fps | 96.4% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,149 psi | 86% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,408 psi | 83% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,018 psi | 86% | 1693 fps | 88.6% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,656 psi | 85% | 1696 fps | 93.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,802 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,788 psi | 90% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,048 psi | 88% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,424 psi | 85% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,222 psi | 88% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,859 psi | 88% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,613 psi | 87% | 1693 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,163 psi | 84% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 89% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 68% | 44,918 psi | 90% | 1690 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,611 psi | 81% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,511 psi | 87% | 1683 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,802 psi | 90% | 1742 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,174 psi | 76% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,279 psi | 86% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,118 psi | 82% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,077 psi | 88% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,540 psi | 87% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 86% | 1509 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4.8"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,543 psi | 57% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 55% | 1424 fps | 86.2% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,405 psi | 75% | 1604 fps | 86% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,704 psi | 59% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,368 psi | 53% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,347 psi | 75% | 1598 fps | 87.4% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 18,362 psi | 37% | 1168 fps | 89.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,999 psi | 74% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,124 psi | 58% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,109 psi | 58% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,762 psi | 59% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,343 psi | 63% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,340 psi | 55% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 60% | 1470 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,256 psi | 64% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,443 psi | 59% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 39% | 1171 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 52% | 1378 fps | 93.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,921 psi | 58% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,303 psi | 73% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,513 psi | 53% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,747 psi | 57% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 38% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,966 psi | 62% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 48% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,971 psi | 76% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,733 psi | 21% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,806 psi | 62% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 55% | 1424 fps | 86.2% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,405 psi | 75% | 1604 fps | 86% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,245 psi | 72% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,111 psi | 62% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 51% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,195 psi | 54% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,021 psi | 56% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 58% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,923 psi | 64% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,274 psi | 72% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,969 psi | 72% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,109 psi | 20% | 820 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,875 psi | 52% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 48% | 1339 fps | 86.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,043 psi | 76% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 44% | 1302 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,405 psi | 75% | 1604 fps | 86% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 55% | 1424 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 49% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,646 psi | 59% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 58% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,227 psi | 64% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 43% | 1227 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,195 psi | 56% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,458 psi | 61% | 1480 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,110 psi | 60% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,644 psi | 55% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,041 psi | 70% | 1539 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 51% | 1335 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 4.8 gr | 68% | 22,568 psi | 45% | 1296 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.7 gr | 68% | 19,145 psi | 38% | 1253 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,807 psi | 64% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,795 psi | 34% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,299 psi | 63% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,267 psi | 54% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 44% | 1253 fps | 98% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,392 psi | 77% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,527 psi | 53% | 1276 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 66 powders for 5.7 x 28 loaded with the .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,742 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,086 fps to 1,742 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 31 of the 66 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (345 MPa), the top charges use 42–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 50.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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. Vihtavuori 3N38, Vihtavuori N105, ADI AP 100 rank at the top here: for 5.7 x 28 with the .204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 7, Accurate No. 9, Accurate TCM burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays, Hodgdon TrailBoss stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.