Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 20 VGW with .355 | 90gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator bullet and 65 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant BULLSEYE, Alliant Sport Pistol and Ramshot Silhouette.
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>> | 96% | 38,899 psi | 89% | 1526 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate No. 5* | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,247 psi | 88% | 1594 fps | 89.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,943 psi | 90% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,735 psi | 75% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,856 psi | 89% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,985 psi | 87% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,421 psi | 88% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,014 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,188 psi | 85% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,171 psi | 79% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,868 psi | 82% | 1558 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Green Dotᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,244 psi | 81% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,755 psi | 48% | 1286 fps | 92.6% |
| Alliant RED DOTᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,476 psi | 79% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,885 psi | 89% | 1601 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,545 psi | 70% | 1490 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,739 psi | 87% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,306 psi | 49% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,754 psi | 89% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,737 psi | 82% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Claysᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,707 psi | 77% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,160 psi | 90% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6* | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,508 psi | 89% | 1585 fps | 92.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot* | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,870 psi | 89% | 1594 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,579 psi | 84% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,195 psi | 19% | 860 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Universalᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,579 psi | 86% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,692 psi | 77% | 1434 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D036* | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1594 fps | 89.6% |
| Lovex S011 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,854 psi | 85% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,027 psi | 83% | 1529 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,124 psi | 67% | 1398 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,370 psi | 68% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,736 psi | 78% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,173 psi | 85% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,737 psi | 82% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,550 psi | 86% | 1575 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue* | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,389 psi | 81% | 1539 fps | 93% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,521 psi | 86% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,797 psi | 87% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 6,643 psi | 15% | 804 fps | 86.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,921 psi | 66% | 1476 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,970 psi | 85% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1594 fps | 89.6% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,692 psi | 77% | 1434 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,711 psi | 89% | 1591 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,908 psi | 71% | 1430 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,593 psi | 84% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,812 psi | 89% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,043 psi | 85% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,027 psi | 83% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,943 psi | 90% | 1591 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem MS200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,113 psi | 78% | 1506 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S121² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,737 psi | 82% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,458 psi | 70% | 1480 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,520 psi | 82% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,289 psi | 83% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,490 psi | 36% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,653 psi | 89% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,910 psi | 78% | 1499 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,657 psi | 59% | 1391 fps | 88.6% |
| Winchester 231 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,521 psi | 86% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,290 psi | 88% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,986 psi | 90% | 1611 fps | 93.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,734 psi | 71% | 1444 fps | 99.8% |
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>> | 72% | 19,058 psi | 44% | 1188 fps | 87.5% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,880 psi | 76% | 1512 fps | 87.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,562 psi | 33% | 1050 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,762 psi | 25% | 968 fps | 88.1% |
| ADI AP 70N*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,127 psi | 35% | 1129 fps | 94.9% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 41% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 38% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 33% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,576 psi | 34% | 1073 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,660 psi | 25% | 974 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 14,823 psi | 34% | 1109 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 30% | 1030 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 14,054 psi | 32% | 1102 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,705 psi | 29% | 1014 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 16,897 psi | 39% | 1171 fps | 88.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,562 psi | 33% | 1125 fps | 86.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,618 psi | 29% | 1007 fps | 95.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,773 psi | 16% | 814 fps | 87.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,850 psi | 30% | 1050 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,603 psi | 27% | 1004 fps | 88.9% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,314 psi | 31% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 53% | 1280 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 25,846 psi | 59% | 1375 fps | 85.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 25,179 psi | 58% | 1371 fps | 87.4% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,282 psi | 65% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 4,902 psi | 11% | 692 fps | 86.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,618 psi | 29% | 1047 fps | 92% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,384 psi | 65% | 1355 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,822 psi | 75% | 1509 fps | 87% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,898 psi | 41% | 1148 fps | 97.6% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,387 psi | 31% | 1076 fps | 87.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,312 psi | 24% | 948 fps | 87.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,137 psi | 21% | 961 fps | 91.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,777 psi | 27% | 997 fps | 94.6% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,576 psi | 31% | 1047 fps | 98.6% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 35% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | 6 gr | 64% | 17,390 psi | 40% | 1188 fps | 86.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 23,511 psi | 54% | 1329 fps | 86.2% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,771 psi | 52% | 1280 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,836 psi | 30% | 1089 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 96% | 6,309 psi | 14% | 787 fps | 85.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 13,111 psi | 30% | 1089 fps | 86.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,099 psi | 37% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,822 psi | 75% | 1509 fps | 87% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,384 psi | 65% | 1355 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,558 psi | 66% | 1434 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,055 psi | 35% | 1089 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,779 psi | 32% | 1047 fps | 94.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,140 psi | 30% | 1024 fps | 89.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 42% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,212 psi | 28% | 1017 fps | 90% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,867 psi | 36% | 1142 fps | 86% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,981 psi | 30% | 1040 fps | 85.3% |
| Somchem S121² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,227 psi | 72% | 1476 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,698 psi | 50% | 1312 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 52% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 30% | 1053 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,627 psi | 13% | 751 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,414 psi | 26% | 1030 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,895 psi | 32% | 1083 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,076 psi | 53% | 1339 fps | 86.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,898 psi | 41% | 1175 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 60% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,758 psi | 57% | 1371 fps | 86.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,211 psi | 23% | 955 fps | 85.4% |
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 48 powders for 9 x 20 VGW loaded with the .355 | 90gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator. Alliant Sport Pistol delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,601 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 860 fps to 1,601 fps. Accurate Solo 1000 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 48 of the 48 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 19–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI AS 30 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, Alliant Sport Pistol, Ramshot Silhouette rank at the top here: for 9 x 20 VGW with the .355 | 90gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.