Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 40gr | Berger FB Varmint bullet and 64 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, ADI AP 100 and SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2.
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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 4.8"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,511 psi | 87% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,744 psi | 89% | 1932 fps | 91.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,540 psi | 87% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,947 psi | 90% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,092 psi | 90% | 1893 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,815 psi | 86% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 87% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,366 psi | 87% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,468 psi | 87% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 86% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 45,237 psi | 90% | 1932 fps | 90.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,149 psi | 86% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,469 psi | 89% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,366 psi | 87% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,902 psi | 86% | 1903 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,945 psi | 84% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,482 psi | 87% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,234 psi | 82% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 90% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,264 psi | 84% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,495 psi | 83% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 89% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,205 psi | 80% | 1791 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,309 psi | 89% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,349 psi | 41% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,469 psi | 89% | 1742 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,744 psi | 89% | 1932 fps | 91.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,163 psi | 86% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,510 psi | 83% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,250 psi | 84% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,526 psi | 87% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,090 psi | 84% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,222 psi | 88% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,540 psi | 87% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 44,382 psi | 89% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,524 psi | 81% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,580 psi | 39% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,034 psi | 90% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,495 psi | 81% | 1854 fps | 92.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,104 psi | 82% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,685 psi | 85% | 1886 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,744 psi | 89% | 1932 fps | 91.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,583 psi | 85% | 1749 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,597 psi | 83% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,712 psi | 81% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,107 psi | 90% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,858 psi | 84% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,915 psi | 82% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,165 psi | 90% | 1939 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,744 psi | 89% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,902 psi | 86% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,423 psi | 83% | 1847 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,669 psi | 83% | 1814 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,598 psi | 87% | 1890 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,976 psi | 88% | 1946 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 45,034 psi | 90% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,237 psi | 88% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,303 psi | 73% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,263 psi | 80% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,309 psi | 89% | 1781 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,121 psi | 90% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,915 psi | 82% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,947 psi | 90% | 1749 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% | 27,456 psi | 55% | 1503 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 34,418 psi | 69% | 1745 fps | 86.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,006 psi | 54% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,613 psi | 49% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 4.3 gr | 64% | 18,826 psi | 38% | 1329 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,244 psi | 70% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,877 psi | 58% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,355 psi | 57% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,354 psi | 55% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,689 psi | 59% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,019 psi | 50% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,026 psi | 68% | 1729 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,096 psi | 62% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,021 psi | 56% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 38% | 1312 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 48% | 1499 fps | 88.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,658 psi | 53% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,345 psi | 69% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,498 psi | 51% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,977 psi | 54% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 36% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,718 psi | 59% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,428 psi | 59% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,114 psi | 70% | 1703 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,696 psi | 77% | 1762 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,298 psi | 21% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,863 psi | 60% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 34,418 psi | 69% | 1745 fps | 86.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,012 psi | 70% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,501 psi | 59% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,583 psi | 47% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,426 psi | 53% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,368 psi | 53% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,615 psi | 55% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,705 psi | 61% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,606 psi | 69% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,069 psi | 66% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,689 psi | 19% | 919 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 47% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,848 psi | 58% | 1617 fps | 85.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,579 psi | 73% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 40% | 1414 fps | 91% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 34,418 psi | 69% | 1745 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 47% | 1407 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 57% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,601 psi | 55% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,140 psi | 62% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 20,233 psi | 40% | 1352 fps | 92.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,296 psi | 55% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,209 psi | 54% | 1591 fps | 92.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,369 psi | 57% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,498 psi | 51% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,966 psi | 64% | 1670 fps | 91.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,685 psi | 47% | 1463 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,921 psi | 58% | 1614 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,075 psi | 44% | 1493 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 41,350 psi | 83% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,747 psi | 59% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 33% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,456 psi | 57% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,874 psi | 50% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 20,494 psi | 41% | 1378 fps | 94.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,405 psi | 73% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 48% | 1407 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 64 powders for 5.7 x 28 loaded with the .224 | 40gr | Berger FB Varmint. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,946 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,227 fps to 1,946 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 35 of the 64 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (345 MPa), the top charges use 39–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant BLUE DOT, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 N350, ADI AP 100, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for 5.7 x 28 with the .224 | 40gr | Berger FB Varmint they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 7, Alliant BLUE DOT, Lovex D037.1 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.