Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Auto Mag. with .357 | 158gr | Hornady FP XTP bullet and 39 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, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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: 6.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 31,734 psi | 86% | 1503 fps | 91.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,459 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 31,647 psi | 86% | 1496 fps | 93% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 83% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,851 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,953 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,140 psi | 84% | 1509 fps | 88.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,445 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,388 psi | 90% | 1522 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,966 psi | 86% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,460 psi | 88% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,561 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,256 psi | 87% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,385 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,446 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,415 psi | 85% | 1594 fps | 89.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,118 psi | 60% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,648 psi | 88% | 1516 fps | 92.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,300 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,561 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,227 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,298 psi | 82% | 1506 fps | 89.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,624 psi | 56% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,401 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,805 psi | 81% | 1453 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 68% | 31,444 psi | 85% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,648 psi | 88% | 1516 fps | 92.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,706 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,644 psi | 75% | 1447 fps | 90.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 32,837 psi | 89% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,764 psi | 89% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,053 psi | 84% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,082 psi | 84% | 1463 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 87% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,227 psi | 84% | 1535 fps | 89.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,618 psi | 85% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,750 psi | 89% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 83% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,995 psi | 84% | 1296 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 6.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,612 psi | 64% | 1339 fps | 86.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,862 psi | 75% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 64% | 1339 fps | 88.1% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 52% | 1194 fps | 96.9% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,791 psi | 81% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,385 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,325 psi | 74% | 1437 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,660 psi | 77% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 49% | 1194 fps | 86% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 57% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,805 psi | 78% | 1427 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,341 psi | 79% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 78% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,015 psi | 54% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,251 psi | 68% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,122 psi | 73% | 1509 fps | 86.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 10,138 psi | 27% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 66% | 1355 fps | 87.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 70% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,559 psi | 80% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,211 psi | 79% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,194 psi | 71% | 1424 fps | 86.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 9,645 psi | 26% | 804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,456 psi | 74% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,208 psi | 71% | 1381 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 65% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 66% | 1355 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 71% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,394 psi | 61% | 1335 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 62% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,370 psi | 79% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,485 psi | 74% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 52% | 1214 fps | 91.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,230 psi | 44% | 1184 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,615 psi | 75% | 1470 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 6.4 gr | 60% | 17,202 psi | 47% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,240 psi | 79% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 65% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,470 psi | 74% | 1243 fps | 100% |
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 39 powders for .357 Auto Mag. loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Hornady FP XTP. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,594 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,060 fps to 1,594 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 8 of the 39 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (255 MPa), the top charges use 56–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 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, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .357 Auto Mag. with the .357 | 158gr | Hornady FP XTP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 9, Accurate TCM, Alliant 2400 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.