Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .17 Ackley Bee with .172 | 20gr | Nosler Varmageddon BTip bullet and 21 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Lovex S053, 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>> | 82% | 38,014 psi | 87% | 3343 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 38,000 psi | 87% | 3343 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 82% | 39,131 psi | 90% | 3392 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,441 psi | 63% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,441 psi | 63% | 2375 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,963 psi | 64% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,202 psi | 86% | 3435 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,202 psi | 86% | 3435 fps | 97.2% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,493 psi | 88% | 3484 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,774 psi | 62% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,774 psi | 62% | 2428 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,325 psi | 63% | 2457 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,566 psi | 89% | 3363 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,595 psi | 89% | 3363 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,174 psi | 88% | 3369 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,812 psi | 89% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,812 psi | 89% | 3461 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,479 psi | 88% | 3465 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,421 psi | 88% | 3514 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,421 psi | 88% | 3514 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,637 psi | 87% | 3510 fps | 97% |
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>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 83% | 3297 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,230 psi | 83% | 3294 fps | 97% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,420 psi | 86% | 3346 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,421 psi | 45% | 2116 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,421 psi | 45% | 2116 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,117 psi | 46% | 2156 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | 10.9 gr | 84% | 31,473 psi | 72% | 3264 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S053 | 10.9 gr | 84% | 31,473 psi | 72% | 3264 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S053 | 10.6 gr | 82% | 30,501 psi | 70% | 3245 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 4 gr | 80% | 19,102 psi | 44% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 4 gr | 80% | 19,102 psi | 44% | 2169 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 4 gr | 80% | 19,798 psi | 46% | 2208 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 9.5 gr | 80% | 26,092 psi | 60% | 3012 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 9.5 gr | 80% | 26,092 psi | 60% | 3012 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 9.5 gr | 80% | 27,412 psi | 63% | 3074 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,387 psi | 74% | 3287 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,387 psi | 74% | 3287 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,055 psi | 78% | 3350 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,185 psi | 79% | 3396 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 94% | 34,171 psi | 79% | 3396 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,576 psi | 77% | 3396 fps | 95.6% |
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 21 powders for .17 Ackley Bee loaded with the .172 | 20gr | Nosler Varmageddon BTip. Vihtavuori N120 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,514 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,375 fps to 3,514 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 of the 21 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 20.0 gr projectile in 0.172" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Lovex S053, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .17 Ackley Bee with the .172 | 20gr | Nosler Varmageddon BTip 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.