Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 20 VGW with .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT bullet and 69 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant BULLSEYE, Lovex S020 and Somchem MP200.
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: 4.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,319 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,101 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 93% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,320 psi | 90% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,579 psi | 84% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,303 psi | 83% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,333 psi | 86% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,390 psi | 84% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,522 psi | 89% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,783 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,041 psi | 81% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,811 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,116 psi | 88% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,831 psi | 57% | 1119 fps | 98% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,143 psi | 83% | 1329 fps | 89.9% |
| Alliant RED DOTᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,667 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,072 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,042 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,363 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,656 psi | 57% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,288 psi | 81% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 35,447 psi | 81% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Claysᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,013 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 35,056 psi | 81% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,464 psi | 88% | 1302 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,392 psi | 88% | 1302 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,824 psi | 82% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,805 psi | 25% | 758 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,189 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,566 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,101 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S011 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,187 psi | 83% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,652 psi | 87% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,924 psi | 78% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,606 psi | 80% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,203 psi | 88% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,245 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,579 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,375 psi | 81% | 1260 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,927 psi | 87% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,970 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,369 psi | 22% | 735 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,504 psi | 77% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,101 psi | 88% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,018 psi | 55% | 1214 fps | 89.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,101 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 93% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,566 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,637 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,055 psi | 78% | 1201 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,492 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,986 psi | 90% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,971 psi | 87% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,023 psi | 69% | 1178 fps | 93.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,985 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 34,867 psi | 80% | 1339 fps | 91.7% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,607 psi | 82% | 1257 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,145 psi | 88% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,840 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,157 psi | 81% | 1276 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,535 psi | 84% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,145 psi | 88% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,174 psi | 44% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,853 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,682 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,588 psi | 68% | 1201 fps | 94.8% |
| Winchester 231 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,927 psi | 87% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,377 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,174 psi | 88% | 1309 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,868 psi | 82% | 1224 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 34% | 876 fps | 87.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,990 psi | 57% | 1122 fps | 86.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,766 psi | 39% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,460 psi | 31% | 853 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 44% | 991 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 46% | 856 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,275 psi | 42% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 39% | 869 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,840 psi | 41% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,576 psi | 31% | 863 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | 3.6 gr | 60% | 17,361 psi | 40% | 961 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 36% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,980 psi | 28% | 833 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,225 psi | 67% | 1230 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,795 psi | 36% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 45% | 1007 fps | 95% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,937 psi | 30% | 863 fps | 88.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,548 psi | 36% | 876 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,050 psi | 21% | 738 fps | 96.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,316 psi | 35% | 902 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 55% | 1076 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 35% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,325 psi | 63% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,102 psi | 46% | 1027 fps | 85.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,856 psi | 46% | 1024 fps | 87.6% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,517 psi | 72% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,004 psi | 12% | 535 fps | 91.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 36% | 919 fps | 98.1% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,301 psi | 77% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,947 psi | 57% | 1122 fps | 86.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 48% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020*² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 14,823 psi | 34% | 906 fps | 93.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,314 psi | 28% | 817 fps | 94.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,966 psi | 28% | 853 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,330 psi | 33% | 863 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,244 psi | 37% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 43% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,970 psi | 41% | 981 fps | 91.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 47% | 1030 fps | 88.1% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 60% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 37% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,902 psi | 11% | 535 fps | 85.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,661 psi | 27% | 843 fps | 88.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 45% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 18,666 psi | 43% | 1109 fps | 85.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,947 psi | 57% | 1122 fps | 86.6% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,301 psi | 77% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,533 psi | 77% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,821 psi | 29% | 823 fps | 87.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 38% | 906 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 36% | 892 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 50% | 909 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 20,073 psi | 46% | 1014 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 34% | 883 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,874 psi | 57% | 1188 fps | 86% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 4 gr | 60% | 15,098 psi | 35% | 909 fps | 89.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,460 psi | 33% | 879 fps | 91.7% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,243 psi | 79% | 1266 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,115 psi | 42% | 1004 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,498 psi | 59% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 37% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,977 psi | 18% | 676 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 33% | 912 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,271 psi | 31% | 860 fps | 89.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,376 psi | 40% | 984 fps | 86.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 48% | 1004 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,805 psi | 66% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,222 psi | 58% | 1129 fps | 90.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,517 psi | 29% | 837 fps | 93.5% |
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 69 powders for 9 x 20 VGW loaded with the .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,339 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 735 fps to 1,339 fps. Accurate Solo 1250 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 55 of the 69 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 22–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant Herco, Alliant POWER 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. Alliant BULLSEYE, Lovex S020, Somchem MP200 rank at the top here: for 9 x 20 VGW with the .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Lovex D036 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.