Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .218 Bee with .224 | 55gr | Lapua Soft Point bullet and 22 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N110, Lovex S053 and ADI AR 2205.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,858 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 88% | 41,858 psi | 90% | 2546 fps | 97.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,262 psi | 85% | 2421 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,262 psi | 85% | 2421 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,843 psi | 88% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,843 psi | 88% | 2615 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,208 psi | 56% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,208 psi | 56% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,394 psi | 89% | 2533 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,394 psi | 89% | 2533 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,698 psi | 88% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 82% | 40,698 psi | 88% | 2461 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,959 psi | 88% | 2556 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex S053ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,959 psi | 88% | 2556 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,469 psi | 55% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,469 psi | 55% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,014 psi | 82% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,014 psi | 82% | 2408 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,292 psi | 89% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 94% | 41,292 psi | 89% | 2526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,083 psi | 71% | 2444 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,083 psi | 71% | 2444 fps | 96% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,577 psi | 75% | 2408 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,577 psi | 75% | 2408 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AR 2205 | 10.1 gr | 80% | 30,951 psi | 67% | 2251 fps | 96.3% |
| ADI AR 2205 | 10.1 gr | 80% | 30,951 psi | 67% | 2251 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,042 psi | 78% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,042 psi | 78% | 2533 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,000 psi | 41% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,000 psi | 41% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,450 psi | 85% | 2497 fps | 95% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,450 psi | 85% | 2497 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,725 psi | 83% | 2425 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,725 psi | 83% | 2425 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | 10.3 gr | 86% | 27,963 psi | 60% | 2277 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S053 | 10.3 gr | 86% | 27,963 psi | 60% | 2277 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,623 psi | 40% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,623 psi | 40% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,234 psi | 48% | 2060 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,234 psi | 48% | 2060 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 9.1 gr | 80% | 27,383 psi | 59% | 2251 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 9.1 gr | 80% | 27,383 psi | 59% | 2251 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,604 psi | 68% | 2411 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 98% | 31,604 psi | 68% | 2411 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 22 powders for .218 Bee loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Lapua Soft Point. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,615 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,585 fps to 2,615 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 22 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (320 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Lovex S053 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, Lovex S053, ADI AR 2205 rank at the top here: for .218 Bee with the .224 | 55gr | Lapua Soft Point 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.