Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 mm Steyr with .355 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator bullet and 14 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,563 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,056 psi | 87% | 997 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,955 psi | 87% | 1024 fps | 93.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,694 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 93.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,447 psi | 84% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,937 psi | 66% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,434 psi | 89% | 997 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,360 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,719 psi | 60% | 833 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,621 psi | 85% | 1040 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,027 psi | 82% | 961 fps | 92.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,346 psi | 83% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,752 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 93.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,520 psi | 84% | 991 fps | 97.5% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,127 psi | 77% | 948 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,795 psi | 81% | 968 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,864 psi | 61% | 869 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,447 psi | 79% | 981 fps | 92.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,936 psi | 56% | 833 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2 gr | 60% | 6,918 psi | 35% | 627 fps | 97% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,721 psi | 75% | 932 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 76% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.1 gr | 60% | 6,904 psi | 35% | 630 fps | 92.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,111 psi | 67% | 938 fps | 91.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,794 psi | 76% | 928 fps | 91% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 2.7 gr | 60% | 9,950 psi | 51% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 79% | 971 fps | 92.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,808 psi | 76% | 945 fps | 96.2% |
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 14 powders for 9 mm Steyr loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,040 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 833 fps to 1,040 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 3 of the 14 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (135 MPa), the top charges use 60–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for 9 mm Steyr with the .355 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, SNPE Vectan A0 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Alliant Herco 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.