Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 50gr | Hornady 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 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% | 43,888 psi | 88% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,816 psi | 88% | 1722 fps | 94.6% |
| Accurate No. 9* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,671 psi | 87% | 1713 fps | 89.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,627 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,281 psi | 90% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,758 psi | 87% | 1709 fps | 90.7% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,930 psi | 84% | 1640 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,307 psi | 83% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,699 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,136 psi | 90% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,946 psi | 86% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,670 psi | 85% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,322 psi | 85% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,482 psi | 85% | 1693 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,669 psi | 83% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,845 psi | 88% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,656 psi | 87% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,467 psi | 85% | 1686 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,106 psi | 88% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,308 psi | 85% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,148 psi | 84% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,018 psi | 86% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,553 psi | 83% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,469 psi | 89% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,453 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,150 psi | 88% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,509 psi | 43% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,018 psi | 86% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,816 psi | 88% | 1722 fps | 94.6% |
| Lovex D037.2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,179 psi | 90% | 1736 fps | 89.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,872 psi | 82% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,350 psi | 81% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,454 psi | 89% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,351 psi | 85% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,843 psi | 84% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,540 psi | 87% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,018 psi | 84% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,989 psi | 86% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,888 psi | 88% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,827 psi | 42% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,976 psi | 90% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,162 psi | 82% | 1670 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,092 psi | 88% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 88% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,179 psi | 90% | 1736 fps | 89.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,816 psi | 88% | 1722 fps | 94.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 45,266 psi | 90% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,208 psi | 90% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,527 psi | 89% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,381 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,220 psi | 82% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,527 psi | 89% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,814 psi | 82% | 1660 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,743 psi | 85% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,003 psi | 84% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,480 psi | 81% | 1631 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,959 psi | 82% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,817 psi | 90% | 1713 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,278 psi | 82% | 1693 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,758 psi | 87% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,914 psi | 78% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,208 psi | 88% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,627 psi | 87% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,309 psi | 89% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,976 psi | 90% | 1539 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% | 29,762 psi | 59% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,848 psi | 58% | 1457 fps | 87.3% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,218 psi | 76% | 1627 fps | 86.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,573 psi | 59% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,295 psi | 53% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,431 psi | 67% | 1542 fps | 85.7% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 19,102 psi | 38% | 1194 fps | 90.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,043 psi | 76% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,676 psi | 61% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,964 psi | 58% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,704 psi | 59% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,677 psi | 65% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,268 psi | 56% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,268 psi | 56% | 1437 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,475 psi | 67% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,341 psi | 59% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 41% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,643 psi | 53% | 1401 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,979 psi | 58% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,333 psi | 75% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,615 psi | 55% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,587 psi | 57% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 40% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,561 psi | 65% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 50% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,290 psi | 77% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,008 psi | 22% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,981 psi | 64% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,848 psi | 58% | 1457 fps | 87.3% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,624 psi | 79% | 1650 fps | 87.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,405 psi | 75% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,213 psi | 64% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,237 psi | 50% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,529 psi | 57% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,934 psi | 56% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,429 psi | 61% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,821 psi | 64% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,377 psi | 77% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,621 psi | 71% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,399 psi | 21% | 833 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,948 psi | 54% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 49% | 1358 fps | 87.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,102 psi | 78% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 46% | 1332 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,624 psi | 79% | 1650 fps | 87.4% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,848 psi | 58% | 1457 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,396 psi | 51% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,530 psi | 61% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,805 psi | 60% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,937 psi | 64% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 44% | 1250 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,298 psi | 59% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,169 psi | 62% | 1493 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,038 psi | 62% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,761 psi | 57% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,317 psi | 71% | 1549 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,484 psi | 53% | 1358 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 5 gr | 68% | 23,047 psi | 46% | 1312 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.7 gr | 64% | 18,144 psi | 36% | 1227 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,589 psi | 63% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 36% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,489 psi | 65% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 57% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,785 psi | 46% | 1276 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,320 psi | 79% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 52% | 1273 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 | Hornady Varmint. Lovex D037.2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,736 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,093 fps to 1,736 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 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. 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 .224 | 50gr | Hornady 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 TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.