Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .17 WSM with .172 | 22gr | Peregrine VLR5 (VLR-5) bullet and 10 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 LilGun | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,153 psi | 88% | 2956 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 28,181 psi | 85% | 2936 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,424 psi | 71% | 1962 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,858 psi | 69% | 1955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,611 psi | 65% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,234 psi | 67% | 2008 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,660 psi | 90% | 2792 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,733 psi | 90% | 2805 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,457 psi | 89% | 2851 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 90% | 28,471 psi | 86% | 2831 fps | 96.4% |
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 LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,904 psi | 78% | 2851 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,078 psi | 79% | 2867 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 2.4 gr | 80% | 16,679 psi | 51% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | 2.4 gr | 80% | 16,346 psi | 50% | 1749 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 2.5 gr | 80% | 15,461 psi | 47% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 2.5 gr | 80% | 16,085 psi | 49% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 6.6 gr | 90% | 22,887 psi | 69% | 2572 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 6.5 gr | 88% | 22,220 psi | 67% | 2556 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,078 psi | 79% | 2746 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 86% | 25,251 psi | 77% | 2726 fps | 95% |
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 10 powders for .17 WSM loaded with the .172 | 22gr | Peregrine VLR5 (VLR-5). Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,956 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,955 fps to 2,956 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 10 of the 10 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (228 MPa), the top charges use 65–90 %, 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, 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 | Peregrine VLR5 (VLR-5) 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.