Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Auto Mag. with .357 | 158gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot 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% | 32,430 psi | 88% | 1519 fps | 92.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,807 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,430 psi | 88% | 1512 fps | 93.5% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,067 psi | 84% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,214 psi | 90% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,402 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,850 psi | 86% | 1529 fps | 89.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,648 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 81% | 1467 fps | 94.9% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,097 psi | 87% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,112 psi | 90% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,387 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,576 psi | 88% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,067 psi | 84% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,156 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,445 psi | 88% | 1614 fps | 90.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,466 psi | 61% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 33,402 psi | 90% | 1535 fps | 92.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,590 psi | 88% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,938 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 32,605 psi | 88% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,024 psi | 84% | 1522 fps | 90% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,958 psi | 57% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,705 psi | 86% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,313 psi | 82% | 1463 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,242 psi | 87% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 33,402 psi | 90% | 1535 fps | 92.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 68% | 32,924 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,500 psi | 77% | 1470 fps | 91% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 33,431 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,054 psi | 89% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,691 psi | 86% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38² | <<locked>> | 76% | 31,546 psi | 85% | 1476 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,750 psi | 89% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 96% | 31,894 psi | 86% | 1555 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 31,850 psi | 86% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 64% | 33,040 psi | 89% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 31,227 psi | 84% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 31,154 psi | 84% | 1302 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% | 23,946 psi | 65% | 1352 fps | 87% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,282 psi | 76% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 65% | 1352 fps | 88.5% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 53% | 1204 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,211 psi | 82% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,255 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,050 psi | 76% | 1457 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,921 psi | 78% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,594 psi | 50% | 1211 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 57% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,993 psi | 78% | 1434 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,849 psi | 81% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,196 psi | 79% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,320 psi | 55% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,715 psi | 70% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,065 psi | 76% | 1532 fps | 87.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 10,240 psi | 28% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 67% | 1368 fps | 87.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,469 psi | 72% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,385 psi | 79% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,631 psi | 80% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,890 psi | 73% | 1440 fps | 87.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 4.9 gr | 60% | 9,747 psi | 26% | 810 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,833 psi | 75% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,760 psi | 72% | 1398 fps | 96.1% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 66% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 67% | 1368 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,527 psi | 72% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,902 psi | 62% | 1352 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,264 psi | 63% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,675 psi | 80% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,659 psi | 75% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 52% | 1224 fps | 92.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,462 psi | 45% | 1194 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,311 psi | 77% | 1486 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 6.6 gr | 60% | 17,622 psi | 48% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,544 psi | 80% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 66% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,688 psi | 75% | 1250 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 | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,614 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,066 fps to 1,614 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 7 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 57–90 %, 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 | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot 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.