Load Specifications
Load data in caliber 9 x 21 with .357 | 158gr | Ares SWCBB EPRX bullet and 61 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Somchem MS200.
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>> | 80% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 915 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 984 fps | 91.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 784 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 810 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 935 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,296 psi | 80% | 978 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 955 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 948 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,905 psi | 79% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 942 fps | 92.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 981 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,125 psi | 36% | 623 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 984 fps | 91.5% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,325 psi | 80% | 935 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 951 fps | 94.8% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 915 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,661 psi | 34% | 630 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1014 fps | 92.6% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 984 fps | 91.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 928 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 906 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 919 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 810 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 93.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 925 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1037 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 919 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 764 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 961 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 919 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% | 16,679 psi | 49% | 738 fps | 91.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,003 psi | 67% | 883 fps | 87% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 53% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,750 psi | 43% | 709 fps | 98% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 823 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 62% | 696 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 709 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 725 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,200 psi | 45% | 722 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 56% | 810 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 51% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,327 psi | 33% | 646 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,903 psi | 73% | 945 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 53% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 843 fps | 97.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 2.7 gr | 60% | 14,910 psi | 44% | 735 fps | 92.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 49% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,443 psi | 31% | 620 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,650 psi | 49% | 659 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,058 psi | 56% | 817 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 853 fps | 90.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,846 psi | 20% | 469 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 53% | 771 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 883 fps | 87% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 755 fps | 96.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,286 psi | 42% | 696 fps | 97.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 40% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 47% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,421 psi | 57% | 817 fps | 94.3% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 856 fps | 90.9% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,311 psi | 80% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 55% | 791 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,570 psi | 19% | 459 fps | 93.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 2.8 gr | 60% | 12,908 psi | 38% | 709 fps | 92.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 899 fps | 86.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 883 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 42% | 692 fps | 91.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 52% | 748 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,882 psi | 50% | 738 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 728 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,941 psi | 53% | 784 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,563 psi | 49% | 741 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 955 fps | 87.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,100 psi | 50% | 768 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | 2.7 gr | 60% | 15,490 psi | 45% | 725 fps | 94.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,853 psi | 47% | 771 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 52% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,848 psi | 29% | 568 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,693 psi | 46% | 755 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 43% | 719 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,519 psi | 46% | 761 fps | 86% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 68% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,272 psi | 42% | 705 fps | 96.7% |
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 61 powders for 9 x 21 loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Ares SWCBB EPRX. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,037 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 623 fps to 1,037 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 40 of the 61 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 34–90 %, 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, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Somchem MS200 rank at the top here: for 9 x 21 with the .357 | 158gr | Ares SWCBB EPRX they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Hodgdon HS-6 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.