Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .218 Bee with .224 | 40gr | Sierra SP HORNET bullet and 7 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun, Vihtavuori N110 and SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,595 psi | 85% | 2864 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,914 psi | 86% | 3097 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,714 psi | 53% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,930 psi | 88% | 2943 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,757 psi | 51% | 1952 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,257 psi | 72% | 2776 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 98% | 40,364 psi | 87% | 2995 fps | 99.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,159 psi | 80% | 2812 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | 12.5 gr | 80% | 30,356 psi | 65% | 2881 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,347 psi | 37% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,272 psi | 74% | 2795 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,839 psi | 36% | 1736 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 9.9 gr | 80% | 19,914 psi | 43% | 2365 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 10.3 gr | 80% | 23,757 psi | 51% | 2569 fps | 95.8% |
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 7 powders for .218 Bee loaded with the .224 | 40gr | Sierra SP HORNET. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,097 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,913 fps to 3,097 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 7 of the 7 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 51–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 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, Vihtavuori N110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 rank at the top here: for .218 Bee with the .224 | 40gr | Sierra SP HORNET 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.