Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .17 WSM with .172 | 22gr | Impala LW CFN bullet and 4 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2, ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,324 psi | 77% | 1969 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,077 psi | 76% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 94% | 29,443 psi | 89% | 2749 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 29,588 psi | 90% | 2812 fps | 96.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 2.4 gr | 80% | 18,797 psi | 57% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 2.5 gr | 80% | 18,826 psi | 57% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 6 gr | 82% | 22,031 psi | 67% | 2487 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 82% | 26,672 psi | 81% | 2713 fps | 95.4% |
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 4 powders for .17 WSM loaded with the .172 | 22gr | Impala LW CFN. Vihtavuori N110 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,812 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,969 fps to 2,812 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 4 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (228 MPa), the top charges use 76–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 22.0 gr projectile in 0.172" calls for a 1:8.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. 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. SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .17 WSM with the .172 | 22gr | Impala LW CFN 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.