Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 mm Para with .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, Somchem MP200 and ReloadSwiss RS 20.
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% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1096 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,992 psi | 79% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1119 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,713 psi | 67% | 1047 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1138 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,626 psi | 66% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1129 fps | 90.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,412 psi | 80% | 1112 fps | 91.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,572 psi | 25% | 682 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1102 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 92.7% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,455 psi | 22% | 659 fps | 92.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1175 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1109 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1099 fps | 90.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1119 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1145 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,535 psi | 51% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1125 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1132 fps | 92.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,672 psi | 78% | 1109 fps | 90.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1125 fps | 100% |
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>> | 64% | 15,577 psi | 46% | 860 fps | 87% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 46% | 837 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,400 psi | 33% | 774 fps | 92.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 909 fps | 97.9% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,245 psi | 51% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,040 psi | 44% | 817 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 45% | 846 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,516 psi | 34% | 787 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 48% | 902 fps | 92% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,098 psi | 41% | 823 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,720 psi | 37% | 833 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,982 psi | 41% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,521 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 3.6 gr | 64% | 12,647 psi | 37% | 830 fps | 86.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,343 psi | 39% | 801 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,600 psi | 22% | 673 fps | 93.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,431 psi | 39% | 833 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1007 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,214 psi | 42% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1020 fps | 85.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 1001 fps | 86.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 4,076 psi | 12% | 495 fps | 85.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,909 psi | 41% | 853 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 55% | 909 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,575 psi | 37% | 820 fps | 89.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,936 psi | 32% | 758 fps | 91.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,124 psi | 30% | 781 fps | 96.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,952 psi | 38% | 804 fps | 97.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,881 psi | 44% | 840 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 48% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,157 psi | 47% | 906 fps | 88.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,739 psi | 55% | 958 fps | 85.1% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 71% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,967 psi | 41% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 84% | 5,366 psi | 16% | 574 fps | 85.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 3.7 gr | 64% | 11,023 psi | 32% | 794 fps | 86% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 52% | 915 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,039 psi | 38% | 804 fps | 86.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,605 psi | 43% | 837 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 41% | 823 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 974 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 823 fps | 94.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 13,053 psi | 38% | 827 fps | 85.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,415 psi | 36% | 801 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 978 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,047 psi | 71% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 837 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,193 psi | 18% | 607 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,198 psi | 36% | 830 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 833 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 961 fps | 85.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 951 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,453 psi | 69% | 1056 fps | 88.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,095 psi | 33% | 774 fps | 90.2% |
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 57 powders for 9 mm Para loaded with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,175 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 659 fps to 1,175 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 42 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 22–90 %, 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, Somchem MP200, ReloadSwiss RS 20 rank at the top here: for 9 mm Para with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot, Ramshot True Blue 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.