Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .218 Bee with .224 | 50gr | Norma FMJ bullet and 8 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N110, ADI AR 2205 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% | 41,858 psi | 90% | 2585 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 86% | 40,828 psi | 88% | 2753 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,686 psi | 55% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,857 psi | 88% | 2592 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,319 psi | 83% | 2631 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,874 psi | 54% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,882 psi | 77% | 2500 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,915 psi | 88% | 2654 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | 10.6 gr | 82% | 31,691 psi | 68% | 2379 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,489 psi | 72% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,014 psi | 39% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,043 psi | 80% | 2520 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,067 psi | 67% | 2470 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,622 psi | 38% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 8.9 gr | 80% | 21,234 psi | 46% | 2136 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 9.3 gr | 80% | 25,875 psi | 56% | 2326 fps | 98.3% |
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 8 powders for .218 Bee loaded with the .224 | 50gr | Norma FMJ. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,753 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,670 fps to 2,753 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 8 of the 8 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, Lovex S053, 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. Vihtavuori N110, ADI AR 2205, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 rank at the top here: for .218 Bee with the .224 | 50gr | Norma FMJ 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.