Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .32 Short Colt with .312 | 85gr | Speer JHP bullet and 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,662 psi | 87% | 673 fps | 90.8% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,038 psi | 83% | 666 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,894 psi | 89% | 692 fps | 90.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 12,720 psi | 88% | 692 fps | 90.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,719 psi | 81% | 673 fps | 94.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,734 psi | 81% | 663 fps | 86.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,517 psi | 86% | 715 fps | 90.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 12,125 psi | 84% | 702 fps | 88.1% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,821 psi | 82% | 633 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 13,010 psi | 90% | 768 fps | 89.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,140 psi | 84% | 682 fps | 90.7% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,082 psi | 90% | 705 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12* | <<locked>> | 80% | 13,039 psi | 90% | 771 fps | 93.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,401 psi | 86% | 732 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,836 psi | 89% | 725 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,326 psi | 64% | 636 fps | 95.5% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,197 psi | 77% | 636 fps | 88.6% |
| ADI AS 30*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,588 psi | 73% | 630 fps | 93.7% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,182 psi | 70% | 623 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,095 psi | 70% | 620 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,978 psi | 62% | 597 fps | 90% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,734 psi | 81% | 663 fps | 86.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 88% | 10,283 psi | 71% | 656 fps | 86.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,139 psi | 77% | 679 fps | 86.4% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,327 psi | 71% | 597 fps | 97.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 10,588 psi | 73% | 702 fps | 85.4% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,485 psi | 65% | 614 fps | 86% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,022 psi | 69% | 630 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 9,355 psi | 65% | 673 fps | 87% |
| Rottweil P 801*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,819 psi | 68% | 669 fps | 91.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,109 psi | 70% | 653 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 6,005 psi | 41% | 518 fps | 86.6% |
* 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 16 powders for .32 Short Colt loaded with the .312 | 85gr | Speer JHP. ReloadSwiss RS 12 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 771 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 633 fps to 771 fps. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 16 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (100 MPa), the top charges use 64–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, 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, Accurate Solo 1000, ADI AS 50N, Alliant Green Dot burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, ADI AS 30, ADI AS 50N 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.