Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .32 Short Colt with .314 | 83gr | Lapua Lead Wadcutter bullet and 13 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>> | 72% | 12,415 psi | 86% | 673 fps | 89.3% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,459 psi | 86% | 653 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 12,792 psi | 88% | 699 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 11,937 psi | 82% | 686 fps | 87.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 12,328 psi | 85% | 705 fps | 94.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 84% | 13,053 psi | 90% | 732 fps | 88.1% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,516 psi | 79% | 636 fps | 98.2% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 11,734 psi | 81% | 686 fps | 89% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,705 psi | 88% | 709 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12* | <<locked>> | 84% | 11,980 psi | 83% | 764 fps | 91.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,691 psi | 88% | 758 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320* | <<locked>> | 80% | 12,415 psi | 86% | 725 fps | 90.2% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,281 psi | 50% | 591 fps | 90% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 10,805 psi | 75% | 636 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,646 psi | 73% | 617 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AS 30*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,108 psi | 56% | 581 fps | 88.2% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 10,399 psi | 72% | 650 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 7,760 psi | 54% | 581 fps | 86.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 11,835 psi | 82% | 705 fps | 86.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,369 psi | 58% | 558 fps | 94.4% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 10,182 psi | 70% | 646 fps | 86.3% |
| Maxam CSB 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,934 psi | 55% | 584 fps | 90.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 9,268 psi | 64% | 689 fps | 85.8% |
| Rottweil P 801*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 8,441 psi | 58% | 650 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 10,834 psi | 75% | 686 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star* | <<locked>> | 92% | 6,411 psi | 44% | 558 fps | 87% |
* 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 13 powders for .32 Short Colt loaded with the .314 | 83gr | Lapua Lead Wadcutter. ReloadSwiss RS 12 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 764 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 591 fps to 764 fps. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 13 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (100 MPa), the top charges use 50–90 %, 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, Accurate Solo 1000, ADI AS 50N, Alliant RED DOT burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, ADI APS 450, ADI AS 30 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.