Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 mm Para with .357 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT bullet and 62 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 ≥ 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% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 932 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 90.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 902 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 781 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 820 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 853 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 942 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,498 psi | 75% | 919 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1007 fps | 87.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 951 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,657 psi | 75% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 938 fps | 91.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 981 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,341 psi | 30% | 604 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 90.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,224 psi | 80% | 935 fps | 93.8% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,616 psi | 28% | 600 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,352 psi | 71% | 1001 fps | 91.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 90.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 925 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 915 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 915 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 804 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 955 fps | 94% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 909 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1014 fps | 89.4% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 961 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 965 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 748 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 938 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 978 fps | 95.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,760 psi | 79% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 94.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 938 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 45% | 719 fps | 89.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 64% | 869 fps | 85.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,227 psi | 39% | 689 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 801 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 692 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 56% | 705 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 48% | 696 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 51% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,373 psi | 39% | 696 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 52% | 787 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 47% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,704 psi | 31% | 646 fps | 86.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,093 psi | 79% | 974 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 712 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 820 fps | 96% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,082 psi | 38% | 705 fps | 90% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,331 psi | 45% | 702 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,413 psi | 28% | 607 fps | 98.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 46% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 46% | 656 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 846 fps | 87.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,001 psi | 59% | 837 fps | 88.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,308 psi | 16% | 446 fps | 93.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,940 psi | 47% | 748 fps | 98.8% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 869 fps | 85.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,509 psi | 63% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,591 psi | 43% | 728 fps | 94.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 673 fps | 96.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,662 psi | 37% | 709 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,707 psi | 43% | 705 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 49% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,043 psi | 56% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 54% | 807 fps | 93% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 60% | 840 fps | 89.4% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,760 psi | 79% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 768 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,888 psi | 14% | 433 fps | 87% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,371 psi | 33% | 679 fps | 89.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 61% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 909 fps | 86.5% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 869 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,952 psi | 38% | 673 fps | 89.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,230 psi | 48% | 732 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 45% | 719 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 722 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 801 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 44% | 722 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,147 psi | 65% | 928 fps | 85.2% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 45% | 741 fps | 90.9% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,924 psi | 41% | 702 fps | 92.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,302 psi | 48% | 784 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,832 psi | 79% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 47% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,093 psi | 24% | 548 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 41% | 732 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,923 psi | 38% | 689 fps | 90.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,128 psi | 47% | 778 fps | 86% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,672 psi | 75% | 925 fps | 92.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,126 psi | 39% | 692 fps | 95.2% |
* 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 62 powders for 9 mm Para loaded with the .357 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,014 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 600 fps to 1,014 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 42 of the 62 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 28–90 %, 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. 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.