Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 mm FAR with .357 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT bullet and 64 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Somchem MP200.
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 ≥ 60% and propellant combustion ≥ 80%. 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: 4.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,300 psi | 86% | 965 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 32,909 psi | 87% | 1033 fps | 93% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,127 psi | 88% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,038 psi | 82% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,837 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,619 psi | 87% | 823 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,562 psi | 89% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,982 psi | 87% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,185 psi | 88% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,981 psi | 85% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,154 psi | 83% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,648 psi | 87% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,498 psi | 68% | 935 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,358 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 90.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,127 psi | 88% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,807 psi | 84% | 1001 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,706 psi | 87% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,792 psi | 84% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,657 psi | 68% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,198 psi | 85% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,430 psi | 86% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,634 psi | 89% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,893 psi | 82% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,096 psi | 82% | 1004 fps | 94.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 81% | 997 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,081 psi | 29% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,837 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 32,924 psi | 87% | 1033 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,300 psi | 86% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,776 psi | 79% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,779 psi | 90% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,401 psi | 83% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 33,765 psi | 90% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,503 psi | 86% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,750 psi | 90% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,313 psi | 80% | 988 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 72% | 31,169 psi | 83% | 1001 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,675 psi | 79% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,228 psi | 88% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,587 psi | 25% | 614 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,026 psi | 90% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,256 psi | 86% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,337 psi | 65% | 1020 fps | 92.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 32,924 psi | 87% | 1033 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,053 psi | 85% | 971 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 33,736 psi | 89% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,518 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,705 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,370 psi | 78% | 971 fps | 94.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 34,069 psi | 90% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,271 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 92.4% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,880 psi | 87% | 1010 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,953 psi | 87% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,503 psi | 86% | 1030 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,532 psi | 86% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,430 psi | 86% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,609 psi | 52% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,721 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,068 psi | 85% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,733 psi | 79% | 994 fps | 96.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 72% | 31,212 psi | 83% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,866 psi | 87% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 68% | 34,055 psi | 90% | 1043 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 96% | 32,634 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 40% | 732 fps | 90.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,843 psi | 58% | 886 fps | 86.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 45% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 35% | 702 fps | 97% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,058 psi | 51% | 817 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 54% | 702 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 51% | 715 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 47% | 728 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 46% | 748 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,358 psi | 35% | 712 fps | 99% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 47% | 804 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,940 psi | 42% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,529 psi | 25% | 627 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,108 psi | 72% | 994 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,462 psi | 44% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 52% | 837 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 2.8 gr | 60% | 13,039 psi | 35% | 719 fps | 90.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,287 psi | 41% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,398 psi | 25% | 620 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 42% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 64% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 42% | 666 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,818 psi | 74% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 47% | 814 fps | 85.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 53% | 853 fps | 89.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,294 psi | 14% | 456 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,911 psi | 42% | 761 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 58% | 886 fps | 86.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 57% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,562 psi | 39% | 745 fps | 95.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,749 psi | 34% | 686 fps | 96.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,662 psi | 34% | 722 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 39% | 719 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,592 psi | 44% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 50% | 745 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 49% | 823 fps | 93.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 54% | 856 fps | 90.2% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,687 psi | 71% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,462 psi | 44% | 781 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,888 psi | 13% | 440 fps | 87.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 2.9 gr | 60% | 11,327 psi | 30% | 692 fps | 90.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 55% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,360 psi | 43% | 886 fps | 85.2% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 58% | 886 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 34% | 686 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 43% | 745 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 41% | 732 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 55% | 732 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,839 psi | 45% | 784 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 40% | 735 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,104 psi | 59% | 948 fps | 86.2% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 3.2 gr | 60% | 15,229 psi | 40% | 755 fps | 91.7% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 39% | 735 fps | 93.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,317 psi | 43% | 801 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,774 psi | 71% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 43% | 748 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,093 psi | 21% | 558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,938 psi | 37% | 745 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 34% | 705 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,143 psi | 43% | 794 fps | 87% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 57% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,646 psi | 79% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 68% | 942 fps | 92.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 35% | 705 fps | 95.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
² fill rate low - you might want to consider using a filler to ensure proper ignition.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 64 powders for 9 mm FAR loaded with the .357 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,083 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 614 fps to 1,083 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 46 of the 64 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (260 MPa), the top charges use 25–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Somchem MP200 rank at the top here: for 9 mm FAR with the .357 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Hodgdon HS-6 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate No. 5, Accurate Solo 1000 stay subsonic at start load. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.