Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .32 H&R Mag. with .311 | 86gr | H&N RN HS bullet and 14 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,332 psi | 85% | 1030 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,275 psi | 90% | 1053 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,752 psi | 83% | 1047 fps | 93% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,766 psi | 83% | 1047 fps | 92.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,347 psi | 90% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,690 psi | 58% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,173 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,636 psi | 82% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,341 psi | 51% | 837 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,550 psi | 86% | 1086 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,592 psi | 82% | 1010 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 17,941 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,332 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 93.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,520 psi | 81% | 1020 fps | 97.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,650 psi | 77% | 991 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,969 psi | 79% | 1001 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,893 psi | 59% | 902 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 75% | 1007 fps | 91.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,298 psi | 51% | 840 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.1 gr | 60% | 4,815 psi | 24% | 591 fps | 89.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 70% | 951 fps | 96.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,214 psi | 70% | 981 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 5,468 psi | 27% | 633 fps | 86.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 65% | 968 fps | 91.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,142 psi | 75% | 974 fps | 91.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 2.9 gr | 60% | 8,789 psi | 43% | 768 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 78% | 1007 fps | 92.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,489 psi | 71% | 968 fps | 95.5% |
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 14 powders for .32 H&R Mag. loaded with the .311 | 86gr | H&N RN HS. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,086 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 837 fps to 1,086 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 14 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (140 MPa), the top charges use 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .32 H&R Mag. with the .311 | 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. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Alliant Herco 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.