Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .17 Hornet with .172 | 20gr | Nosler Varmageddon BTip bullet and 27 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S040 and Vihtavuori N110.
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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,298 psi | 90% | 3573 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 94% | 48,298 psi | 90% | 3573 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,398 psi | 88% | 3570 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,515 psi | 90% | 3484 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 96% | 48,515 psi | 90% | 3484 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 94% | 46,282 psi | 86% | 3458 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,384 psi | 88% | 3688 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 90% | 47,384 psi | 88% | 3688 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 88% | 46,818 psi | 87% | 3688 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,469 psi | 47% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,469 psi | 47% | 2247 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,817 psi | 48% | 2267 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,297 psi | 88% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,297 psi | 88% | 3517 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 88% | 48,167 psi | 90% | 3550 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,204 psi | 73% | 3409 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,204 psi | 73% | 3409 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,944 psi | 76% | 3468 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,859 psi | 44% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,859 psi | 44% | 2270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,236 psi | 45% | 2293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,753 psi | 68% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,753 psi | 68% | 3268 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,463 psi | 70% | 3294 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,384 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 47,384 psi | 88% | 3576 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 48,269 psi | 90% | 3606 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,931 psi | 80% | 3458 fps | 95% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 90% | 42,931 psi | 80% | 3458 fps | 95% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,526 psi | 81% | 3488 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,580 psi | 72% | 3268 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,580 psi | 72% | 3268 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 37,028 psi | 69% | 3245 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | 9.5 gr | 80% | 33,736 psi | 63% | 3383 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | 9.5 gr | 80% | 33,736 psi | 63% | 3383 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | 9.5 gr | 80% | 34,621 psi | 65% | 3415 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,043 psi | 34% | 2001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,043 psi | 34% | 2001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,463 psi | 34% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | 8.2 gr | 80% | 37,115 psi | 69% | 3287 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S040 | 8.2 gr | 80% | 37,115 psi | 69% | 3287 fps | 99% |
| Lovex S040 | 8.2 gr | 80% | 38,058 psi | 71% | 3327 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,043 psi | 69% | 3356 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,043 psi | 69% | 3356 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,607 psi | 66% | 3330 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,753 psi | 33% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,753 psi | 33% | 2057 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,405 psi | 32% | 2051 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,943 psi | 39% | 2759 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,943 psi | 39% | 2759 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,611 psi | 40% | 2799 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 7.8 gr | 80% | 26,179 psi | 49% | 3028 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 7.8 gr | 80% | 26,179 psi | 49% | 3028 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 7.8 gr | 80% | 26,150 psi | 49% | 3041 fps | 96.9% |
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 27 powders for .17 Hornet loaded with the .172 | 20gr | Nosler Varmageddon BTip. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,688 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,247 fps to 3,688 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 27 of the 27 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (370 MPa), the top charges use 44–90 %, 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. Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S040, Vihtavuori N110 rank at the top here: for .17 Hornet 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.