Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 mm Para with .356 | 102gr | LEE Mold 356-102-1R bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon Universal, Somchem MS200 and ReloadSwiss RS 12.
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"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,006 psi | 79% | 1198 fps | 92.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1247 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1138 fps | 92.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 87.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 89.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,890 psi | 23% | 748 fps | 94.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1257 fps | 98.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 94.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,963 psi | 79% | 1240 fps | 88.3% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1257 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1237 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 90.7% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,601 psi | 81% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,287 psi | 45% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1289 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,758 psi | 73% | 1217 fps | 87.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 88.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 99.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1033 fps | 86.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 43% | 932 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,501 psi | 31% | 846 fps | 87.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 45% | 1007 fps | 95% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,390 psi | 51% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,665 psi | 49% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,489 psi | 40% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,170 psi | 42% | 938 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,254 psi | 30% | 850 fps | 90.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 44% | 984 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 39% | 915 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 13,866 psi | 41% | 971 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,531 psi | 37% | 889 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 49% | 1030 fps | 88.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,431 psi | 42% | 991 fps | 85.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,328 psi | 36% | 883 fps | 95.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,947 psi | 20% | 728 fps | 87.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 37% | 925 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 60% | 1112 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,264 psi | 68% | 1138 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,295 psi | 77% | 1230 fps | 85.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1217 fps | 87.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss* | <<locked>> | 80% | 5,366 psi | 16% | 636 fps | 87.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal*² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 12,546 psi | 37% | 925 fps | 91.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 53% | 1020 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,126 psi | 39% | 945 fps | 87% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,066 psi | 30% | 827 fps | 86.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,949 psi | 26% | 843 fps | 91.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,053 psi | 35% | 889 fps | 94.8% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 912 fps | 98.1% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,389 psi | 45% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,390 psi | 51% | 1053 fps | 86.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 23,322 psi | 68% | 1175 fps | 85.7% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 12,241 psi | 36% | 948 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 13,184 psi | 39% | 965 fps | 86% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,563 psi | 46% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,982 psi | 44% | 961 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,967 psi | 41% | 932 fps | 94.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,343 psi | 39% | 912 fps | 89.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 961 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 899 fps | 89.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,085 psi | 47% | 1017 fps | 86% |
| Somchem MS200*² | 4 gr | 64% | 13,155 psi | 39% | 925 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 92% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 1211 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,604 psi | 37% | 922 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,439 psi | 16% | 656 fps | 93.8% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,907 psi | 32% | 896 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,779 psi | 40% | 955 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,887 psi | 67% | 1181 fps | 86.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 52% | 1033 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,628 psi | 75% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,034 psi | 73% | 1220 fps | 86% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,429 psi | 34% | 886 fps | 87.4% |
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 56 powders for 9 mm Para loaded with the .356 | 102gr | LEE Mold 356-102-1R. Vihtavuori 3N37 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,316 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 748 fps to 1,316 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 45 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 23–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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 Universal, Somchem MS200, ReloadSwiss RS 12 rank at the top here: for 9 mm Para with the .356 | 102gr | LEE Mold 356-102-1R they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 2, Alliant Herco, Hodgdon HS-6 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.