.17 Ackley Bee Load Data

The .22 Ackley Bee is a wildcat rifle cartridge derived from the .218 Bee and modified by the legendary gunsmith P.O. Ackley. Designed to enhance performance over its parent case, the .22 Ackley Bee features a sharper shoulder angle and reduced body taper, resulting in increased powder capacity and higher velocities. Typically chambered in lever-action and single-shot rifles, this cartridge offers improved accuracy and flatter trajectories for small game and varmint hunting. The .22 Ackley Bee gained popularity among handloaders and custom rifle enthusiasts who sought a lightweight, high-velocity round with minimal recoil. Though not commercially standardized, its efficiency and effectiveness in taking varmints such as groundhogs, prairie dogs, and foxes have kept it alive in the niche community of wildcat cartridge users. Typical bullet weights range from 40 to 55 grains, and muzzle velocities can exceed 3,000 feet per second depending on load and barrel length. Its reputation for excellent terminal performance at modest ranges, combined with its efficient powder use, makes it a well-balanced round for precision shooting in the field. While factory brass and ammo are unavailable, shooters often form cases by resizing and fire-forming .218 Bee brass, a process well-known to experienced reloaders.