Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .17 Ackley Bee with .172 | 18gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullet and 12 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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 ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. 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: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,130 psi | 88% | 3465 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,130 psi | 88% | 3465 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,367 psi | 58% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,367 psi | 58% | 2441 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,363 psi | 88% | 3589 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,363 psi | 88% | 3589 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,540 psi | 56% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,540 psi | 56% | 2493 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,029 psi | 87% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,029 psi | 87% | 3494 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,971 psi | 87% | 3583 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,971 psi | 87% | 3583 fps | 99.7% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,245 psi | 83% | 3412 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,245 psi | 83% | 3412 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,159 psi | 42% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,159 psi | 42% | 2192 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,477 psi | 84% | 3540 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,477 psi | 84% | 3540 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 3.7 gr | 80% | 17,695 psi | 41% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 3.7 gr | 80% | 17,695 psi | 41% | 2241 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 8.8 gr | 80% | 22,553 psi | 52% | 3005 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 8.8 gr | 80% | 22,553 psi | 52% | 3005 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 9.2 gr | 80% | 28,036 psi | 64% | 3284 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 9.2 gr | 80% | 28,036 psi | 64% | 3284 fps | 97.4% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 12 powders for .17 Ackley Bee loaded with the .172 | 18gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos. Lovex S053 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,589 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,441 fps to 3,589 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 of the 12 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 56–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 N110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .17 Ackley Bee with the .172 | 18gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.