Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 55gr | Berger FB 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% | 43,758 psi | 87% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,150 psi | 88% | 1631 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate No. 9* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,352 psi | 87% | 1617 fps | 90.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,453 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,252 psi | 90% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM* | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,250 psi | 86% | 1611 fps | 91.6% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,119 psi | 84% | 1549 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,699 psi | 85% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,048 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,524 psi | 83% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,482 psi | 87% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,888 psi | 86% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,583 psi | 85% | 1604 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,031 psi | 82% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,917 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,149 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,279 psi | 84% | 1588 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,672 psi | 89% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,061 psi | 84% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,206 psi | 84% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,382 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 42,221 psi | 84% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,541 psi | 89% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,309 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,336 psi | 45% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,150 psi | 88% | 1631 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex D037.2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 90% | 1640 fps | 91% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,887 psi | 84% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,074 psi | 80% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,454 psi | 89% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,872 psi | 84% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,889 psi | 90% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,570 psi | 89% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,337 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,192 psi | 84% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 45,194 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,624 psi | 41% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,074 psi | 80% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,509 psi | 81% | 1568 fps | 96.4% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,511 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,047 psi | 86% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,063 psi | 90% | 1640 fps | 91% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,150 psi | 88% | 1631 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,308 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,480 psi | 81% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,092 psi | 90% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,090 psi | 84% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 41,191 psi | 82% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,628 psi | 89% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,553 psi | 81% | 1562 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,294 psi | 87% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,003 psi | 84% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 41,046 psi | 82% | 1549 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,293 psi | 85% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,628 psi | 89% | 1608 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,973 psi | 82% | 1598 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,817 psi | 90% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,551 psi | 77% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,121 psi | 88% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,034 psi | 88% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,092 psi | 88% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,251 psi | 88% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,309 psi | 89% | 1437 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% | 30,168 psi | 60% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 58% | 1385 fps | 88.9% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,634 psi | 67% | 1467 fps | 85.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,138 psi | 58% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 52% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,417 psi | 67% | 1457 fps | 87.1% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 18,565 psi | 37% | 1115 fps | 90.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,217 psi | 74% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,617 psi | 59% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,892 psi | 60% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,950 psi | 58% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,547 psi | 65% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,470 psi | 55% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 57% | 1365 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,881 psi | 68% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,921 psi | 58% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 41% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,484 psi | 53% | 1322 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,108 psi | 56% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,392 psi | 77% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,876 psi | 56% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,427 psi | 57% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,044 psi | 40% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,647 psi | 63% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 49% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,942 psi | 76% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,776 psi | 22% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,242 psi | 64% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 58% | 1385 fps | 88.9% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,853 psi | 70% | 1486 fps | 86.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,014 psi | 76% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,285 psi | 63% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 50% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,485 psi | 57% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,659 psi | 55% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,110 psi | 60% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,982 psi | 66% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,202 psi | 74% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,071 psi | 72% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,878 psi | 22% | 797 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,049 psi | 52% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,092 psi | 50% | 1293 fps | 89% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,827 psi | 80% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 46% | 1260 fps | 97.7% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,853 psi | 70% | 1486 fps | 86.4% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 58% | 1385 fps | 88.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 51% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,718 psi | 59% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,964 psi | 58% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,170 psi | 66% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 44% | 1168 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,573 psi | 59% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,502 psi | 63% | 1417 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,879 psi | 64% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,659 psi | 55% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,346 psi | 71% | 1460 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 52% | 1273 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 4.3 gr | 64% | 20,566 psi | 41% | 1184 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.3 gr | 64% | 18,202 psi | 36% | 1168 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,473 psi | 63% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 34% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,386 psi | 63% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,398 psi | 55% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 47% | 1214 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,567 psi | 81% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,731 psi | 53% | 1204 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 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint. Lovex D037.2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,640 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,037 fps to 1,640 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 41–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 55.0 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 .224 | 55gr | Berger FB Varmint they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 9, Accurate TCM, Alliant BLUE DOT burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. ADI AP 100, ADI APS 350, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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.