Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 20 VGW with .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN 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, Somchem MP200 and Lovex S020.
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>> | 88% | 36,361 psi | 84% | 1211 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 93.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,579 psi | 86% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,985 psi | 87% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,739 psi | 87% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,812 psi | 89% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,320 psi | 90% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,363 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,725 psi | 89% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,218 psi | 90% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,174 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,058 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,788 psi | 59% | 1125 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,231 psi | 86% | 1339 fps | 90.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,014 psi | 85% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,157 psi | 81% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,042 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,114 psi | 81% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,657 psi | 59% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,477 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,203 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Claysᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,304 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,349 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6* | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,752 psi | 82% | 1263 fps | 94.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,447 psi | 79% | 1250 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,188 psi | 85% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,849 psi | 25% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,274 psi | 83% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,290 psi | 88% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,159 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 93.8% |
| Lovex S011 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 86% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,131 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,779 psi | 78% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,100 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,637 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,608 psi | 84% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,753 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,754 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,492 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,291 psi | 90% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,898 psi | 85% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,413 psi | 22% | 728 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,446 psi | 77% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,128 psi | 81% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,990 psi | 57% | 1220 fps | 90.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,159 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 93.8% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,290 psi | 88% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,943 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,215 psi | 81% | 1207 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,696 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,391 psi | 86% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,768 psi | 87% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,936 psi | 69% | 1171 fps | 93.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,290 psi | 88% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,129 psi | 83% | 1345 fps | 92.7% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,840 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,608 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,957 psi | 90% | 1319 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,289 psi | 83% | 1283 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,390 psi | 84% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,043 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,189 psi | 46% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,260 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,578 psi | 82% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,690 psi | 71% | 1207 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 231 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,797 psi | 87% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,174 psi | 88% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 68% | 34,084 psi | 78% | 1253 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,057 psi | 85% | 1227 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% | 14,895 psi | 34% | 869 fps | 88.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,889 psi | 60% | 1132 fps | 87.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 41% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,489 psi | 31% | 850 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 44% | 984 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 46% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 44% | 866 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,752 psi | 39% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,811 psi | 41% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,590 psi | 31% | 856 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | 3.6 gr | 60% | 17,361 psi | 40% | 955 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,723 psi | 38% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,979 psi | 25% | 797 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,093 psi | 62% | 1188 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 36% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 47% | 1020 fps | 96% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,966 psi | 30% | 856 fps | 89% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,606 psi | 36% | 869 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,079 psi | 21% | 732 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,954 psi | 37% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,707 psi | 34% | 883 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,374 psi | 35% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,253 psi | 63% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,885 psi | 48% | 1037 fps | 86.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 46% | 1017 fps | 88% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,808 psi | 75% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,366 psi | 12% | 548 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 36% | 912 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,199 psi | 76% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,846 psi | 59% | 1132 fps | 87.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 48% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020*² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 14,837 psi | 34% | 899 fps | 94% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,010 psi | 30% | 830 fps | 95.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,053 psi | 28% | 846 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,171 psi | 35% | 876 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 37% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 43% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 43% | 991 fps | 92.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,147 psi | 49% | 1037 fps | 89.1% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 60% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,955 psi | 39% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,931 psi | 11% | 531 fps | 86.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,676 psi | 27% | 837 fps | 89.4% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 48% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 18,753 psi | 43% | 1102 fps | 85.6% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,846 psi | 59% | 1132 fps | 87.7% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,199 psi | 76% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,431 psi | 77% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,821 psi | 29% | 817 fps | 88.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 38% | 899 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,708 psi | 36% | 886 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,509 psi | 49% | 902 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,594 psi | 43% | 978 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,548 psi | 36% | 896 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,932 psi | 57% | 1178 fps | 86.4% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 4 gr | 60% | 15,113 psi | 35% | 902 fps | 90% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 33% | 876 fps | 92.1% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,098 psi | 78% | 1257 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,679 psi | 38% | 965 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 59% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,331 psi | 38% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,021 psi | 18% | 669 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,446 psi | 33% | 906 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,300 psi | 31% | 853 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,159 psi | 42% | 994 fps | 87.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 50% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,008 psi | 69% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,165 psi | 60% | 1138 fps | 91.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,169 psi | 30% | 846 fps | 94.6% |
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 47 powders for 9 x 20 VGW loaded with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,345 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 728 fps to 1,345 fps. Accurate Solo 1250 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 47 of the 47 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 BE-86, Alliant Herco 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, Somchem MP200, Lovex S020 rank at the top here: for 9 x 20 VGW with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, SNPE Vectan SP 2 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.