Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 50gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 4.8"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,888 psi | 86% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,395 psi | 87% | 1709 fps | 94.3% |
| Accurate No. 9* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,540 psi | 87% | 1706 fps | 89% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,453 psi | 87% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,440 psi | 89% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,511 psi | 87% | 1706 fps | 90.5% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,336 psi | 83% | 1627 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,148 psi | 84% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,698 psi | 83% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,251 psi | 88% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,945 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,669 psi | 83% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,640 psi | 83% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,192 psi | 84% | 1690 fps | 93% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,698 psi | 81% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,888 psi | 86% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,989 psi | 86% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,814 psi | 84% | 1673 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,947 psi | 90% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,408 psi | 83% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,701 psi | 89% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,932 psi | 88% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,496 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,947 psi | 88% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,555 psi | 87% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,857 psi | 44% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,148 psi | 84% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,395 psi | 87% | 1709 fps | 94.3% |
| Lovex D037.2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,005 psi | 90% | 1726 fps | 89.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,756 psi | 83% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,976 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,234 psi | 80% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,452 psi | 83% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,483 psi | 89% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,859 psi | 86% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,308 psi | 85% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 44,759 psi | 89% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,176 psi | 42% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,193 psi | 88% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,179 psi | 90% | 1729 fps | 96.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,192 psi | 86% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,221 psi | 84% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,005 psi | 90% | 1726 fps | 89.6% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,395 psi | 87% | 1709 fps | 94.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,570 psi | 89% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,541 psi | 89% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,830 psi | 88% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,453 psi | 85% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,177 psi | 84% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,772 psi | 87% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,962 psi | 90% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,671 psi | 87% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,830 psi | 86% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,987 psi | 80% | 1624 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,121 psi | 90% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,425 psi | 89% | 1699 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,770 psi | 81% | 1686 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,743 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,145 psi | 76% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 45,223 psi | 90% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,830 psi | 86% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,671 psi | 87% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,497 psi | 87% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,324 psi | 89% | 1529 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% | 30,385 psi | 61% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,369 psi | 57% | 1444 fps | 86.9% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,000 psi | 76% | 1621 fps | 86.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,124 psi | 60% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,774 psi | 54% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,112 psi | 66% | 1529 fps | 85.3% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 18,565 psi | 37% | 1175 fps | 89.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,159 psi | 74% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,617 psi | 59% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,515 psi | 59% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,703 psi | 57% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,720 psi | 63% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,557 psi | 55% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,876 psi | 56% | 1427 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,113 psi | 68% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,863 psi | 60% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 42% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,180 psi | 54% | 1411 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,963 psi | 56% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,101 psi | 76% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,847 psi | 54% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,095 psi | 58% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 39% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,039 psi | 64% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 48% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,695 psi | 75% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,153 psi | 22% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,125 psi | 62% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,369 psi | 57% | 1444 fps | 86.9% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,305 psi | 79% | 1640 fps | 87.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,477 psi | 73% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,372 psi | 63% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,701 psi | 51% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,979 psi | 58% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,442 psi | 57% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,501 psi | 59% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,401 psi | 65% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,681 psi | 75% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,230 psi | 72% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,501 psi | 21% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,179 psi | 52% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 48% | 1342 fps | 86.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,885 psi | 80% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 45% | 1322 fps | 96.5% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,305 psi | 79% | 1640 fps | 87.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,369 psi | 57% | 1444 fps | 86.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,685 psi | 49% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,791 psi | 60% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,051 psi | 58% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,561 psi | 65% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 43% | 1237 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,834 psi | 60% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,472 psi | 61% | 1480 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,647 psi | 63% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,978 psi | 56% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,809 psi | 70% | 1535 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 52% | 1342 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 5 gr | 68% | 23,511 psi | 47% | 1322 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.6 gr | 64% | 17,637 psi | 35% | 1214 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,213 psi | 64% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 35% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,575 psi | 63% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,572 psi | 55% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 44% | 1260 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,118 psi | 80% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,687 psi | 53% | 1280 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 | Sierra VarmintKing. ReloadSwiss RS 24 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,729 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,096 fps to 1,729 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 28 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 1:12.5 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 .224 | 50gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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.