Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .32 H&R Mag. with .309 | 86gr | H&N RN HS bullet and 11 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon TrailBoss and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,680 psi | 87% | 1073 fps | 94.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,985 psi | 89% | 1083 fps | 94.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,883 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,256 psi | 60% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,027 psi | 84% | 1027 fps | 98.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,274 psi | 85% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,834 psi | 53% | 853 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,433 psi | 81% | 1060 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,695 psi | 87% | 1047 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,637 psi | 87% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,521 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 98% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,255 psi | 55% | 886 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 78% | 1027 fps | 92% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,762 psi | 53% | 860 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.2 gr | 60% | 4,975 psi | 25% | 600 fps | 90.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 73% | 971 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 77% | 1020 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.6 gr | 68% | 5,598 psi | 28% | 643 fps | 87.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 71% | 1004 fps | 92.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,548 psi | 77% | 991 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,905 psi | 44% | 771 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 76% | 1001 fps | 96.6% |
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 11 powders for .32 H&R Mag. loaded with the .309 | 86gr | H&N RN HS. Alliant UNIQUE delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,083 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 853 fps to 1,083 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 3 of the 11 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (140 MPa), the top charges use 53–89 %, leaving at least 11 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .32 H&R Mag. with the .309 | 86gr | H&N RN HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, SNPE Vectan A0 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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.