Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .32 Short Colt with .312 | 71gr | Sierra FMJ FN TM SportsMaster bullet and 9 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,807 psi | 88% | 725 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AS 30*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,908 psi | 82% | 735 fps | 92.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 12,981 psi | 90% | 778 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 12,038 psi | 83% | 705 fps | 97.4% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 11,850 psi | 82% | 745 fps | 86.6% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 12,865 psi | 89% | 778 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12* | <<locked>> | 88% | 13,082 psi | 90% | 860 fps | 90% |
| Rottweil P 801*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,604 psi | 87% | 823 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,963 psi | 55% | 653 fps | 88.6% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,284 psi | 78% | 686 fps | 97% |
| ADI AS 30*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,297 psi | 64% | 656 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 8,949 psi | 62% | 659 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon Clays*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,282 psi | 64% | 630 fps | 94% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,850 psi | 82% | 745 fps | 86.6% |
| Maxam CSB 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,760 psi | 60% | 656 fps | 90.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12* | <<locked>> | 80% | 10,689 psi | 74% | 787 fps | 85.6% |
| Rottweil P 801*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 9,079 psi | 63% | 719 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star* | <<locked>> | 92% | 7,179 psi | 50% | 623 fps | 86.2% |
* 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 9 powders for .32 Short Colt loaded with the .312 | 71gr | Sierra FMJ FN TM SportsMaster. ReloadSwiss RS 12 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 860 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 653 fps to 860 fps. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 3 of the 9 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (100 MPa), the top charges use 55–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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. As outliers, ADI AS 30, Alliant RED DOT, Maxam CSB 4 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. ADI APS 450, ADI AS 30, Alliant RED DOT 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.