Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .32 Long Colt with .314 | 100gr | Sellier & Bellot LRN bullet and 11 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.
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: 3.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,777 psi | 81% | 719 fps | 90.2% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,328 psi | 85% | 741 fps | 94.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 11,980 psi | 83% | 735 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,469 psi | 52% | 594 fps | 94.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,299 psi | 85% | 728 fps | 91.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 12,662 psi | 87% | 781 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,024 psi | 90% | 741 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 6,672 psi | 46% | 577 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 12,546 psi | 87% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,763 psi | 88% | 774 fps | 93.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,024 psi | 90% | 758 fps | 90.5% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 3.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,733 psi | 74% | 692 fps | 88.5% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,428 psi | 72% | 692 fps | 91.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,469 psi | 45% | 574 fps | 87.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 4,859 psi | 34% | 492 fps | 86.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,312 psi | 71% | 676 fps | 87.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,615 psi | 59% | 673 fps | 91.2% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,879 psi | 82% | 715 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 96% | 6,048 psi | 42% | 554 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | 1.6 gr | 60% | 5,526 psi | 38% | 535 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,675 psi | 74% | 719 fps | 90.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,182 psi | 77% | 712 fps | 87.7% |
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 11 powders for .32 Long Colt loaded with the .314 | 100gr | Sellier & Bellot LRN. Maxam CSB 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 781 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 577 fps to 781 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 11 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (100 MPa), the top charges use 46–90 %, 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 rank at the top here: for .32 Long Colt with the .314 | 100gr | Sellier & Bellot LRN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Hodgdon TrailBoss burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, 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.