Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 Hornet with .224 | 40gr | Berger FB Varmint bullet and 5 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 98% | 37,797 psi | 87% | 2766 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,045 psi | 48% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 94% | 38,899 psi | 89% | 2595 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,233 psi | 47% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,820 psi | 69% | 2487 fps | 95.4% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 90% | 29,457 psi | 68% | 2582 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,185 psi | 35% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,214 psi | 76% | 2480 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,837 psi | 34% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 98% | 28,834 psi | 66% | 2464 fps | 95% |
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 5 powders for .22 Hornet loaded with the .224 | 40gr | Berger FB Varmint. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,766 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,644 fps to 2,766 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 5 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 47–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N110 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. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.