Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 20 VGW with .357 | 127gr | H&N KS HP HS bullet and 66 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 Vihtavuori 3N37.
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% | 37,724 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,954 psi | 80% | 1276 fps | 93.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,247 psi | 90% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,448 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,189 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,320 psi | 90% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,029 psi | 87% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,231 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,507 psi | 86% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,725 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,375 psi | 81% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,883 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,731 psi | 61% | 1145 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 92.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,059 psi | 90% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,898 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,566 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,905 psi | 62% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,334 psi | 90% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,160 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Claysᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,015 psi | 90% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,376 psi | 84% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,318 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,172 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,885 psi | 89% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,545 psi | 27% | 771 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,189 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,896 psi | 80% | 1273 fps | 93.5% |
| Lovex S011 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,160 psi | 90% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,333 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,506 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,753 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,203 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,363 psi | 88% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,709 psi | 84% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,811 psi | 85% | 1273 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,159 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,347 psi | 84% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,798 psi | 89% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,022 psi | 23% | 748 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,042 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,276 psi | 88% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,093 psi | 62% | 1260 fps | 93.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,896 psi | 80% | 1273 fps | 93.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,521 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,781 psi | 82% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,334 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,521 psi | 84% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,590 psi | 75% | 1214 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,767 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,534 psi | 82% | 1342 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,102 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,739 psi | 87% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,376 psi | 84% | 1296 fps | 88.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,203 psi | 88% | 1309 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,914 psi | 89% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,825 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,770 psi | 50% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,856 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,101 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,706 psi | 75% | 1240 fps | 97% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,347 psi | 84% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,433 psi | 81% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,274 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,102 psi | 90% | 1253 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% | 16,288 psi | 37% | 909 fps | 90.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 53% | 1089 fps | 86.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 41% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 33% | 869 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 48% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 49% | 866 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 47% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,811 psi | 41% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 43% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 33% | 873 fps | 99% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 18,942 psi | 44% | 994 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 40% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,501 psi | 24% | 781 fps | 86% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,020 psi | 60% | 1175 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 39% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 48% | 1033 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 33% | 896 fps | 91.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 38% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,645 psi | 22% | 751 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,013 psi | 39% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 60% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 38% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,819 psi | 66% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 45% | 1014 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 49% | 1056 fps | 90.4% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,621 psi | 80% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,555 psi | 13% | 558 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 40% | 948 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 53% | 1089 fps | 86.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 52% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,244 psi | 37% | 932 fps | 95.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,692 psi | 31% | 850 fps | 96.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,605 psi | 31% | 886 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,983 psi | 37% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,143 psi | 39% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,928 psi | 46% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 46% | 1017 fps | 94.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 51% | 1060 fps | 90.8% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,717 psi | 64% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 41% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,134 psi | 12% | 541 fps | 87.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,198 psi | 28% | 856 fps | 91.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 49% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 18,608 psi | 43% | 1102 fps | 86.5% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 53% | 1089 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,011 psi | 32% | 853 fps | 90.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 41% | 928 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 39% | 919 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 52% | 915 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,376 psi | 40% | 955 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,201 psi | 37% | 912 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,033 psi | 55% | 1168 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 16,346 psi | 38% | 935 fps | 92.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 35% | 892 fps | 93.5% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 74% | 1240 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | 5.2 gr | 68% | 15,693 psi | 36% | 945 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,036 psi | 64% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,303 psi | 40% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,775 psi | 20% | 692 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 35% | 922 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,880 psi | 32% | 873 fps | 91.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,955 psi | 39% | 971 fps | 87.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 52% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,560 psi | 73% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,282 psi | 63% | 1161 fps | 93.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,677 psi | 31% | 863 fps | 95.8% |
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 .357 | 127gr | H&N KS HP HS. Alliant POWER PISTOL delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,365 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 748 fps to 1,365 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 53 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 23–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Alliant UNIQUE 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, Vihtavuori 3N37 rank at the top here: for 9 x 20 VGW with the .357 | 127gr | H&N KS HP HS 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.