Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint bullet and 65 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>> | 68% | 39,972 psi | 80% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,988 psi | 82% | 1598 fps | 95% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,089 psi | 82% | 1598 fps | 90% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,048 psi | 88% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,742 psi | 83% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,104 psi | 82% | 1594 fps | 91.4% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,062 psi | 86% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,613 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,612 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,237 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,179 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,541 psi | 89% | 1667 fps | 88.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,135 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,060 psi | 82% | 1594 fps | 94.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,540 psi | 87% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,059 psi | 80% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,147 psi | 82% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,976 psi | 90% | 1640 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,800 psi | 84% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,237 psi | 88% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,193 psi | 88% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,686 psi | 89% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 43,294 psi | 87% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,887 psi | 84% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,498 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,408 psi | 45% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,846 psi | 90% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,988 psi | 82% | 1598 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1624 fps | 90.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,467 psi | 85% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,366 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,815 psi | 86% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,280 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,468 psi | 87% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,092 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,294 psi | 87% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,875 psi | 90% | 1677 fps | 89.6% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 45,136 psi | 90% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,235 psi | 84% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,770 psi | 44% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,830 psi | 88% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,859 psi | 88% | 1631 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,597 psi | 83% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1624 fps | 90.7% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,988 psi | 82% | 1598 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,903 psi | 88% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,642 psi | 87% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,033 psi | 86% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,396 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 43,410 psi | 87% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,278 psi | 82% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,555 psi | 87% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,802 psi | 90% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,903 psi | 88% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,917 psi | 86% | 1591 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,323 psi | 87% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,091 psi | 86% | 1604 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,889 psi | 90% | 1660 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,655 psi | 83% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,292 psi | 81% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,598 psi | 85% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,495 psi | 81% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,439 psi | 87% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,177 psi | 84% | 1427 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% | 31,270 psi | 62% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,980 psi | 62% | 1434 fps | 90.6% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 35,984 psi | 72% | 1519 fps | 87.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 61% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 55% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 31,299 psi | 63% | 1430 fps | 86.5% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 20,204 psi | 40% | 1165 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,697 psi | 79% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,415 psi | 63% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,747 psi | 59% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,690 psi | 61% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,910 psi | 68% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,117 psi | 78% | 1585 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,559 psi | 59% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,137 psi | 54% | 1348 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,041 psi | 70% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,458 psi | 61% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 43% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,253 psi | 56% | 1368 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,994 psi | 60% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,073 psi | 78% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,008 psi | 58% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,776 psi | 60% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 42% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,982 psi | 68% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,889 psi | 52% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 23% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,388 psi | 67% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,980 psi | 62% | 1434 fps | 90.6% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,489 psi | 65% | 1457 fps | 85.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,899 psi | 78% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,866 psi | 68% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,411 psi | 53% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,936 psi | 60% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,124 psi | 58% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,604 psi | 63% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,880 psi | 66% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,189 psi | 78% | 1591 fps | 87.1% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,321 psi | 81% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,202 psi | 74% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,820 psi | 22% | 804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,514 psi | 57% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 53% | 1329 fps | 90.3% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,005 psi | 50% | 1306 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,489 psi | 65% | 1457 fps | 85.7% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,980 psi | 62% | 1434 fps | 90.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,629 psi | 53% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,792 psi | 64% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,125 psi | 62% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,764 psi | 65% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,453 psi | 47% | 1214 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,618 psi | 61% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,301 psi | 67% | 1457 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,590 psi | 65% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,124 psi | 60% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 37,449 psi | 75% | 1509 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,065 psi | 56% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 19,377 psi | 39% | 1161 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 17,289 psi | 35% | 1148 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,938 psi | 66% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 37% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,127 psi | 68% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,805 psi | 60% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 48% | 1240 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,499 psi | 55% | 1227 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 65 powders for 5.7 x 28 loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Hornady Varmint. Ramshot Enforcer delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,677 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,050 fps to 1,677 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 of the 65 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (345 MPa), the top charges use 44–90 %, 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 | 55gr | Hornady 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 2400 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.