Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .22 Hornet with .224 | 55gr | Sierra SBT GameKing bullet and 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,376 psi | 86% | 2185 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 90% | 38,870 psi | 89% | 2402 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,308 psi | 56% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 86% | 38,899 psi | 89% | 2238 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,640 psi | 52% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,705 psi | 73% | 2126 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 98% | 38,247 psi | 88% | 2293 fps | 99.9% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,215 psi | 81% | 2149 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,079 psi | 65% | 2201 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,564 psi | 40% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,141 psi | 76% | 2136 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,462 psi | 38% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,942 psi | 44% | 1804 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,510 psi | 52% | 1962 fps | 96.4% |
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 7 powders for .22 Hornet loaded with the .224 | 55gr | Sierra SBT GameKing. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,402 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,430 fps to 2,402 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 7 of the 7 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 52–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. The 55.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:12.0 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. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.