Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 20 VGW with .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold 358-158-RF bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are SNPE Vectan SP 2, Vihtavuori 3N37 and Alliant UNIQUE.
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% | 35,911 psi | 83% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,203 psi | 88% | 1165 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,290 psi | 88% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,087 psi | 88% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,934 psi | 62% | 1027 fps | 91% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,492 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,305 psi | 88% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,363 psi | 90% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,522 psi | 89% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,363 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,782 psi | 85% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,290 psi | 88% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,711 psi | 89% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,775 psi | 64% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL | <<locked>> | 96% | 39,001 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,275 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,346 psi | 81% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,884 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,085 psi | 83% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,153 psi | 67% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,304 psi | 86% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 35,766 psi | 82% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,347 psi | 86% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,233 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,824 psi | 82% | 1125 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,374 psi | 79% | 1109 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,356 psi | 26% | 679 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,492 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1165 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,057 psi | 85% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,592 psi | 80% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,305 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,622 psi | 84% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,361 psi | 84% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,013 psi | 83% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,319 psi | 88% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,287 psi | 79% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,405 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,782 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,115 psi | 85% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,456 psi | 22% | 659 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,349 psi | 90% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,143 psi | 83% | 1171 fps | 88.5% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,276 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,124 psi | 69% | 1158 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,218 psi | 88% | 1165 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,650 psi | 82% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,885 psi | 89% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,681 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 87% | 948 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,185 psi | 79% | 1093 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,464 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,754 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,391 psi | 86% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,796 psi | 85% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,334 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,000 psi | 87% | 1155 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,492 psi | 84% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,969 psi | 83% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,307 psi | 51% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,043 psi | 87% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,521 psi | 86% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,998 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,305 psi | 90% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,087 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,808 psi | 78% | 1109 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,710 psi | 87% | 1083 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% | 16,317 psi | 38% | 810 fps | 94% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 58% | 1004 fps | 92% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 42% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,707 psi | 34% | 781 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,450 psi | 47% | 925 fps | 86.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 48% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 49% | 758 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 48% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 41% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 44% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 34% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 44% | 883 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 41% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,761 psi | 22% | 686 fps | 88.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 21,930 psi | 50% | 981 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 39% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 52% | 942 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 13,808 psi | 32% | 791 fps | 94.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 39% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,514 psi | 22% | 666 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 41% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,007 psi | 64% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 38% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,443 psi | 70% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 46% | 915 fps | 90.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 51% | 955 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,424 psi | 10% | 466 fps | 93.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,882 psi | 39% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 58% | 1004 fps | 92% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 53% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 38% | 830 fps | 98.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 30% | 748 fps | 98.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,126 psi | 30% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,520 psi | 38% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 41% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 47% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 48% | 922 fps | 97.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,873 psi | 55% | 971 fps | 95.3% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,254 psi | 67% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 43% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,163 psi | 10% | 463 fps | 87.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,705 psi | 29% | 781 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,285 psi | 72% | 1112 fps | 86% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 50% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,866 psi | 34% | 909 fps | 86.6% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 58% | 1004 fps | 92% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 32% | 758 fps | 94% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,927 psi | 41% | 823 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,172 psi | 39% | 817 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 54% | 810 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,736 psi | 34% | 797 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 37% | 807 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | 5.8 gr | 72% | 20,320 psi | 47% | 978 fps | 87.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 38% | 837 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 36% | 807 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,687 psi | 61% | 1037 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | 4.6 gr | 64% | 14,330 psi | 33% | 814 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,036 psi | 64% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 42% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,079 psi | 19% | 600 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,201 psi | 37% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,489 psi | 33% | 791 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,199 psi | 33% | 810 fps | 88% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 53% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,605 psi | 77% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,979 psi | 69% | 1063 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 32% | 781 fps | 98.5% |
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 67 powders for 9 x 20 VGW loaded with the .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold 358-158-RF. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,227 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 659 fps to 1,227 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 67 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. 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. SNPE Vectan SP 2, Vihtavuori 3N37, Alliant UNIQUE rank at the top here: for 9 x 20 VGW with the .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold 358-158-RF they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, ReloadSwiss RS 24, Somchem S221 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.