Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 50gr | Berger Varmint 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 N105, 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>> | 72% | 41,379 psi | 83% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,626 psi | 83% | 1680 fps | 93.5% |
| Accurate No. 9* | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,003 psi | 84% | 1677 fps | 88% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,901 psi | 84% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,975 psi | 86% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM* | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,989 psi | 84% | 1673 fps | 89.5% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,859 psi | 88% | 1657 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,698 psi | 81% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,843 psi | 84% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,701 psi | 89% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 88% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,872 psi | 84% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,596 psi | 81% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 96% | 44,817 psi | 90% | 1719 fps | 93.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,686 psi | 89% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 90% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,192 psi | 84% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,973 psi | 82% | 1657 fps | 99% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,236 psi | 86% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,814 psi | 84% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,453 psi | 87% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,525 psi | 85% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 45,005 psi | 90% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,468 psi | 87% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,004 psi | 86% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,873 psi | 86% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,683 psi | 43% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,467 psi | 85% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,626 psi | 83% | 1680 fps | 93.5% |
| Lovex D037.2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,584 psi | 87% | 1703 fps | 88.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,219 psi | 80% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,569 psi | 87% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,063 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,713 psi | 83% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,860 psi | 90% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,844 psi | 86% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,962 psi | 90% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,321 psi | 83% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,192 psi | 86% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,001 psi | 40% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,004 psi | 86% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,207 psi | 86% | 1690 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,511 psi | 87% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,872 psi | 84% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,584 psi | 87% | 1703 fps | 88.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,626 psi | 83% | 1680 fps | 93.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,179 psi | 90% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,511 psi | 87% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,772 psi | 85% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,801 psi | 86% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,730 psi | 89% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,482 psi | 85% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,034 psi | 88% | 1696 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,554 psi | 85% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 90% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,421 psi | 79% | 1611 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 89% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,395 psi | 85% | 1667 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 96% | 43,497 psi | 87% | 1719 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,960 psi | 86% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,999 psi | 74% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,743 psi | 87% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,568 psi | 83% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,815 psi | 86% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,005 psi | 88% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,424 psi | 87% | 1512 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% | 28,863 psi | 58% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,775 psi | 56% | 1430 fps | 86.3% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,550 psi | 73% | 1591 fps | 85.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 57% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,643 psi | 53% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,463 psi | 73% | 1581 fps | 86.9% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 18,521 psi | 37% | 1171 fps | 89.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,318 psi | 75% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,312 psi | 59% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,370 psi | 59% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 57% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,589 psi | 63% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,557 psi | 55% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 59% | 1450 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,532 psi | 65% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,675 psi | 59% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 40% | 1175 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,078 psi | 52% | 1385 fps | 93.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,586 psi | 55% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,622 psi | 73% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 53% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,993 psi | 58% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 39% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,241 psi | 62% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 48% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,912 psi | 74% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,791 psi | 22% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,009 psi | 62% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,775 psi | 56% | 1430 fps | 86.3% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,869 psi | 76% | 1614 fps | 86.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,564 psi | 73% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,386 psi | 63% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 48% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,441 psi | 55% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,832 psi | 54% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,298 psi | 59% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,227 psi | 64% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,637 psi | 73% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,650 psi | 69% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,167 psi | 20% | 820 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,772 psi | 50% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 47% | 1322 fps | 85.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,363 psi | 77% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 44% | 1302 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,869 psi | 76% | 1614 fps | 86.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,775 psi | 56% | 1430 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 49% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,878 psi | 60% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,095 psi | 58% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,518 psi | 65% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 21,741 psi | 43% | 1234 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 57% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,414 psi | 59% | 1457 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,371 psi | 61% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,905 psi | 56% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,142 psi | 68% | 1522 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 50% | 1319 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,742 psi | 45% | 1299 fps | 86.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.7 gr | 68% | 19,290 psi | 39% | 1260 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,053 psi | 64% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 34% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,560 psi | 63% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,499 psi | 55% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 44% | 1257 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,754 psi | 77% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,585 psi | 51% | 1257 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 .224 | 50gr | Berger Varmint. Alliant BLUE DOT delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,719 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,089 fps to 1,719 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 40–90 %, 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 N105, ADI AP 100, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for 5.7 x 28 with the .224 | 50gr | Berger Varmint 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.