Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 Ackley Hornet with .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus bullet and 6 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S040 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 22"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,566 psi | 89% | 2651 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,016 psi | 48% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 90% | 37,260 psi | 86% | 2448 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,160 psi | 46% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,078 psi | 60% | 2221 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,605 psi | 75% | 2434 fps | 97.4% |
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 | 9.4 gr | 84% | 24,874 psi | 57% | 2343 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,156 psi | 35% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | 8.1 gr | 84% | 30,879 psi | 71% | 2313 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | 3 gr | 80% | 14,707 psi | 34% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,264 psi | 53% | 2142 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 94% | 26,832 psi | 62% | 2300 fps | 95.3% |
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 6 powders for .22 Ackley Hornet loaded with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,651 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,562 fps to 2,651 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 6 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 46–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 45.0 gr projectile in 0.223" 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. Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S040, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .22 Ackley Hornet with the .223 | 45gr | Merlin Virtus 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.