Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 60gr | 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% | 40,205 psi | 80% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,337 psi | 87% | 1558 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,438 psi | 85% | 1549 fps | 92% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,916 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,830 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,177 psi | 84% | 1535 fps | 93.1% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,133 psi | 82% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 45,121 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,701 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,932 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,787 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,263 psi | 80% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,234 psi | 80% | 1535 fps | 88.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,918 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,684 psi | 83% | 1529 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,743 psi | 87% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,252 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,047 psi | 84% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,495 psi | 83% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,134 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,628 psi | 89% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,788 psi | 90% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,844 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 44,019 psi | 88% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,902 psi | 86% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 42,351 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 42,061 psi | 84% | 1624 fps | 89% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,032 psi | 46% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 45,121 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,337 psi | 87% | 1558 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,947 psi | 88% | 1565 fps | 92.5% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,801 psi | 86% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,120 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,599 psi | 89% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,526 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,962 psi | 90% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,686 psi | 89% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,930 psi | 82% | 1552 fps | 89.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,250 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,481 psi | 45% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,643 psi | 89% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,353 psi | 89% | 1562 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,699 psi | 85% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,947 psi | 88% | 1565 fps | 92.5% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,337 psi | 87% | 1558 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,585 psi | 89% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,106 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,598 psi | 87% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,918 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,831 psi | 90% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,308 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,439 psi | 87% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,206 psi | 84% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,367 psi | 89% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,773 psi | 89% | 1539 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,657 psi | 89% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 45,266 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 42,380 psi | 85% | 1549 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,437 psi | 83% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,408 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,975 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,959 psi | 82% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,018 psi | 86% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,004 psi | 86% | 1362 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% | 32,750 psi | 65% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,430 psi | 65% | 1394 fps | 92.9% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 33,127 psi | 66% | 1401 fps | 87.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,531 psi | 63% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,543 psi | 57% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,558 psi | 57% | 1319 fps | 86.3% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 20,305 psi | 41% | 1112 fps | 94.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,697 psi | 79% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,894 psi | 64% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,371 psi | 61% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,386 psi | 63% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,315 psi | 67% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,318 psi | 73% | 1470 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,573 psi | 59% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,106 psi | 50% | 1247 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,521 psi | 73% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,343 psi | 63% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,553 psi | 45% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,950 psi | 60% | 1332 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,632 psi | 61% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 40,988 psi | 82% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,298 psi | 61% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,792 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 44% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,548 psi | 69% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,324 psi | 53% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,623 psi | 75% | 1558 fps | 86.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,473 psi | 23% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,722 psi | 69% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,430 psi | 65% | 1394 fps | 92.9% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 33,127 psi | 66% | 1401 fps | 87.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,667 psi | 77% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,866 psi | 68% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,369 psi | 55% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,096 psi | 62% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,066 psi | 60% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,966 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,692 psi | 67% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,578 psi | 71% | 1470 fps | 87% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,682 psi | 77% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,834 psi | 22% | 761 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,558 psi | 57% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,079 psi | 54% | 1283 fps | 92.2% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 52% | 1263 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 33,127 psi | 66% | 1401 fps | 87.6% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,430 psi | 65% | 1394 fps | 92.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,469 psi | 53% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,705 psi | 63% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,111 psi | 62% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,533 psi | 67% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 47% | 1158 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,850 psi | 64% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,200 psi | 68% | 1401 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,243 psi | 68% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,979 psi | 60% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,783 psi | 78% | 1457 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,500 psi | 57% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 20,610 psi | 41% | 1138 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 17,695 psi | 35% | 1106 fps | 89.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,113 psi | 68% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 38% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,084 psi | 68% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,718 psi | 59% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,541 psi | 51% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,747 psi | 57% | 1181 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 | 60gr | Hornady Varmint. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,624 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,004 fps to 1,624 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 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 45–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 60.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:13.0 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 | 60gr | 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. ADI AP 100, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.