Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 5.7 x 28 with .224 | 63gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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>> | 72% | 45,005 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,554 psi | 85% | 1503 fps | 97% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,177 psi | 84% | 1496 fps | 92.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,887 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,308 psi | 85% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 41,785 psi | 84% | 1486 fps | 93.5% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,002 psi | 82% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,627 psi | 87% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,396 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,047 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,685 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,063 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,556 psi | 89% | 1549 fps | 90.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,106 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,901 psi | 82% | 1473 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 44,106 psi | 88% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,524 psi | 83% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 43,163 psi | 86% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,060 psi | 82% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,902 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 45,208 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,656 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,223 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 45,223 psi | 90% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,772 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,338 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 41,466 psi | 83% | 1575 fps | 89.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,626 psi | 45% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,742 psi | 83% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,554 psi | 85% | 1503 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,685 psi | 87% | 1516 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 44,701 psi | 89% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,381 psi | 87% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,729 psi | 87% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,034 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,787 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,179 psi | 90% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 44,599 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,537 psi | 79% | 1483 fps | 89.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 42,380 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,147 psi | 44% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,685 psi | 87% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,120 psi | 86% | 1496 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,061 psi | 84% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 43,685 psi | 87% | 1516 fps | 93% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 42,554 psi | 85% | 1503 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 43,743 psi | 87% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,207 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,656 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 43,947 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 44,889 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 42,032 psi | 84% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,192 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,220 psi | 82% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 45,223 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 43,468 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 44,498 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 44,222 psi | 88% | 1496 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,089 psi | 82% | 1486 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 41,394 psi | 83% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,901 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 43,410 psi | 87% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 41,597 psi | 83% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 42,569 psi | 85% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 42,366 psi | 85% | 1306 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% | 32,692 psi | 65% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,489 psi | 65% | 1352 fps | 93.4% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,963 psi | 56% | 1273 fps | 85.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,980 psi | 62% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,210 psi | 56% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,660 psi | 57% | 1280 fps | 87% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 20,305 psi | 41% | 1076 fps | 94.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,900 psi | 80% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,908 psi | 62% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,646 psi | 59% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,589 psi | 61% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,822 psi | 66% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,781 psi | 72% | 1421 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,544 psi | 59% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,872 psi | 44% | 1138 fps | 85.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,492 psi | 73% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,777 psi | 62% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 45% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 58% | 1276 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,762 psi | 59% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 39,450 psi | 79% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,124 psi | 60% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,385 psi | 61% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 43% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,982 psi | 68% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,512 psi | 51% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,912 psi | 74% | 1509 fps | 87.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 23% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,577 psi | 69% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,489 psi | 65% | 1352 fps | 93.4% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,051 psi | 58% | 1293 fps | 85.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,653 psi | 77% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,924 psi | 68% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,992 psi | 54% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,763 psi | 61% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,559 psi | 59% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,082 psi | 64% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,795 psi | 70% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,331 psi | 71% | 1421 fps | 87.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,624 psi | 77% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,820 psi | 22% | 732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,471 psi | 57% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 53% | 1234 fps | 92.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 52% | 1224 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,051 psi | 58% | 1293 fps | 85.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,489 psi | 65% | 1352 fps | 93.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 52% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,749 psi | 63% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,140 psi | 62% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,982 psi | 66% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,772 psi | 48% | 1125 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,749 psi | 63% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,475 psi | 67% | 1345 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,924 psi | 66% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,820 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 38,798 psi | 78% | 1411 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,805 psi | 58% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 4 gr | 60% | 19,943 psi | 40% | 1089 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 4 gr | 60% | 17,883 psi | 36% | 1079 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,663 psi | 67% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 37% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,982 psi | 68% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,704 psi | 59% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,410 psi | 49% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,819 psi | 58% | 1142 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 | 63gr | Sierra VarmintKing. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,575 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 961 fps to 1,575 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 44–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 63.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:12.0 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 | 63gr | Sierra VarmintKing 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. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI AP 100 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.