Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 mm Steyr with .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R bullet and 17 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,636 psi | 85% | 994 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,346 psi | 83% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,216 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,809 psi | 81% | 1014 fps | 95.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,926 psi | 86% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,892 psi | 56% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,303 psi | 88% | 1004 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,158 psi | 88% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,500 psi | 49% | 801 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,157 psi | 83% | 1037 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,795 psi | 81% | 971 fps | 94.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,593 psi | 90% | 1027 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,331 psi | 83% | 1037 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,984 psi | 87% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,244 psi | 83% | 1004 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,651 psi | 90% | 1066 fps | 90.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,374 psi | 79% | 978 fps | 98.4% |
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% | 14,460 psi | 74% | 945 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,417 psi | 74% | 945 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,921 psi | 51% | 833 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,895 psi | 71% | 961 fps | 93.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,456 psi | 48% | 807 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.3 gr | 60% | 4,540 psi | 23% | 574 fps | 92.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,198 psi | 67% | 906 fps | 97.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,518 psi | 69% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.5 gr | 64% | 4,438 psi | 23% | 581 fps | 87.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,517 psi | 64% | 938 fps | 93.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,938 psi | 71% | 922 fps | 92.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 79% | 978 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,025 psi | 72% | 974 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.1 gr | 60% | 7,890 psi | 40% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 73% | 955 fps | 93.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,011 psi | 72% | 974 fps | 86% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,634 psi | 70% | 932 fps | 97.3% |
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 17 powders for 9 mm Steyr loaded with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R. Vihtavuori N350 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,066 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 801 fps to 1,066 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 17 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (135 MPa), the top charges use 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % 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 .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, SNPE Vectan A0, Vihtavuori 3N37, Vihtavuori N350 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.