Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .218 Bee with .224 | 45gr | Impala RNFP KO bullet and 7 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N110, 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: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 92% | 41,495 psi | 89% | 2654 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,872 psi | 90% | 2871 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,817 psi | 56% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 86% | 41,930 psi | 90% | 2697 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,222 psi | 54% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,548 psi | 74% | 2559 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,959 psi | 90% | 2762 fps | 99.9% |
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>> | 88% | 37,043 psi | 80% | 2562 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,242 psi | 69% | 2674 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,014 psi | 41% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,462 psi | 76% | 2566 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 3.6 gr | 80% | 18,739 psi | 40% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 8.6 gr | 80% | 21,683 psi | 47% | 2198 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 9 gr | 80% | 25,991 psi | 56% | 2392 fps | 96.8% |
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 | 45gr | Impala RNFP KO. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,871 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,726 fps to 2,871 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 54–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 45.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. 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. Vihtavuori N110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .218 Bee with the .224 | 45gr | Impala RNFP KO 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.