Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 20 VGW with .356 | 123gr | LOS FP bullet and 66 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori 3N37, Alliant UNIQUE 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>> | 84% | 35,491 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,768 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 94.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,536 psi | 86% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,001 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,862 psi | 64% | 1188 fps | 87.5% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,623 psi | 86% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,102 psi | 90% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,782 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,320 psi | 90% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,188 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,753 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,085 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,414 psi | 68% | 1201 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1385 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,145 psi | 88% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,998 psi | 80% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,507 psi | 86% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,753 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,544 psi | 68% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,608 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,579 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,260 psi | 86% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,986 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,505 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,088 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,329 psi | 31% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,435 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,710 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 94.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,231 psi | 86% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,940 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,030 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,392 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,883 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,985 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,406 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,783 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,303 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,812 psi | 89% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,694 psi | 82% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,618 psi | 29% | 810 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,723 psi | 82% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,884 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,183 psi | 72% | 1335 fps | 94.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,710 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 94.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,781 psi | 82% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,797 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,535 psi | 84% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,374 psi | 79% | 1260 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,247 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,782 psi | 87% | 1398 fps | 94% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,652 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,594 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,172 psi | 81% | 1302 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,492 psi | 86% | 1329 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,201 psi | 83% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,636 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,221 psi | 56% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,682 psi | 89% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,434 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,650 psi | 80% | 1286 fps | 97.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,812 psi | 89% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,072 psi | 88% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,663 psi | 77% | 1276 fps | 96% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,753 psi | 87% | 1263 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% | 18,057 psi | 42% | 958 fps | 92.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 88.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 45% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 38% | 922 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 25,353 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 85.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,293 psi | 54% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,988 psi | 51% | 892 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 48% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,276 psi | 47% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 48% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,215 psi | 37% | 922 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 48% | 1043 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 44% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,662 psi | 29% | 846 fps | 89.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,556 psi | 59% | 1184 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 45% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,640 psi | 52% | 1083 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4 gr | 60% | 16,549 psi | 38% | 955 fps | 93.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 43% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,821 psi | 27% | 807 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 43% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,037 psi | 67% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 40% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,429 psi | 70% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 50% | 1070 fps | 88% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,728 psi | 55% | 1112 fps | 91.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,440 psi | 17% | 614 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 44% | 984 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 88% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 56% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 42% | 988 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 35% | 889 fps | 97.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,606 psi | 36% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,332 psi | 40% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,305 psi | 44% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 49% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 49% | 1063 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 56% | 1115 fps | 92.1% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,443 psi | 70% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 48% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,078 psi | 16% | 604 fps | 93.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,083 psi | 32% | 915 fps | 93.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 56% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,348 psi | 44% | 1129 fps | 86.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 35% | 889 fps | 92% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 45% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 43% | 961 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,090 psi | 53% | 942 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,753 psi | 41% | 971 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 42% | 965 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,192 psi | 56% | 1184 fps | 86.6% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 18,304 psi | 42% | 984 fps | 93.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 39% | 945 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,386 psi | 72% | 1250 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | 5.4 gr | 68% | 17,506 psi | 40% | 994 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,080 psi | 67% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 45% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,791 psi | 25% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 40% | 978 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 37% | 928 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,505 psi | 36% | 945 fps | 85.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 56% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,156 psi | 76% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,588 psi | 68% | 1217 fps | 94.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,795 psi | 36% | 915 fps | 97.4% |
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 66 powders for 9 x 20 VGW loaded with the .356 | 123gr | LOS FP. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,398 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 807 fps to 1,398 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 50 of the 66 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 29–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 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. Vihtavuori 3N37, Alliant UNIQUE, Somchem MP200 rank at the top here: for 9 x 20 VGW with the .356 | 123gr | LOS FP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.