Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 Hornet with .224 | 40gr | Hornady V-MAX bullet and 4 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 LilGunᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,450 psi | 88% | 2753 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,943 psi | 48% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 94% | 37,811 psi | 87% | 2549 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,319 psi | 44% | 1647 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,631 psi | 68% | 2562 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,953 psi | 34% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,301 psi | 79% | 2480 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,620 psi | 34% | 1493 fps | 100% |
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 4 powders for .22 Hornet loaded with the .224 | 40gr | Hornady V-MAX. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,753 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,631 fps to 2,753 fps. Hodgdon LilGun gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 4 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 44–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. The 40.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:11.5 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon LilGun, Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.