Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 21 with .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN Top Shelf bullet and 58 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, Vihtavuori N340 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% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1086 fps | 96.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1122 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1024 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1125 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,630 psi | 81% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1132 fps | 90.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 92.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,529 psi | 28% | 692 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1132 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1099 fps | 91.5% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,209 psi | 24% | 666 fps | 93.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1145 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,963 psi | 79% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1070 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1066 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 951 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,426 psi | 78% | 1066 fps | 89.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1099 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 93% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1122 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1073 fps | 90.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 91.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1086 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>> | 64% | 15,011 psi | 44% | 833 fps | 85.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,127 psi | 44% | 814 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,473 psi | 34% | 764 fps | 92.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 48% | 892 fps | 97.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 797 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 51% | 807 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 46% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 48% | 850 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,400 psi | 33% | 771 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 45% | 873 fps | 91% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 41% | 807 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,575 psi | 37% | 814 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,620 psi | 43% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,970 psi | 53% | 928 fps | 92.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 3.1 gr | 64% | 12,618 psi | 37% | 814 fps | 86.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,343 psi | 39% | 787 fps | 98.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,035 psi | 24% | 673 fps | 94.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,866 psi | 41% | 833 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 810 fps | 93.6% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 42% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,322 psi | 68% | 1030 fps | 86.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 974 fps | 85.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,482 psi | 13% | 486 fps | 87.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,706 psi | 40% | 830 fps | 95.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 55% | 896 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S020*² | 3.2 gr | 60% | 13,111 psi | 38% | 820 fps | 90.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,081 psi | 33% | 748 fps | 91.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,443 psi | 31% | 781 fps | 96.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,821 psi | 38% | 791 fps | 97.7% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,562 psi | 43% | 820 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,723 psi | 49% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 48% | 899 fps | 88.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,523 psi | 60% | 981 fps | 86.3% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 984 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,576 psi | 40% | 856 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 5,366 psi | 16% | 541 fps | 85.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,560 psi | 34% | 801 fps | 86.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 51% | 899 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,676 psi | 37% | 778 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,968 psi | 44% | 833 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 42% | 817 fps | 93.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 827 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,321 psi | 63% | 984 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,937 psi | 38% | 797 fps | 93.6% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 814 fps | 85.1% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,865 psi | 38% | 797 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 988 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,424 psi | 69% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,677 psi | 40% | 823 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,976 psi | 20% | 617 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,531 psi | 37% | 827 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | 3.1 gr | 60% | 11,748 psi | 34% | 778 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 88% | 18,942 psi | 56% | 965 fps | 85.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 912 fps | 99% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,658 psi | 78% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1020 fps | 86.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,211 psi | 33% | 764 fps | 90.3% |
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 39 powders for 9 x 21 loaded with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN Top Shelf. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,145 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 666 fps to 1,145 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 39 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 24–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 UNIQUE, Vihtavuori N340, Lovex S020 rank at the top here: for 9 x 21 with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN Top Shelf they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori 3N37 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.