Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Mag. with .356 | 120gr | LEE Mold 356-120-TC bullet and 64 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and ADI AP 100.
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"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,608 psi | 86% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,548 psi | 79% | 1631 fps | 90.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,102 psi | 90% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,014 psi | 87% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,840 psi | 87% | 1627 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 35,636 psi | 82% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,652 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,059 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,188 psi | 85% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,739 psi | 87% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 35,781 psi | 82% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,477 psi | 84% | 1647 fps | 89.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,448 psi | 84% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,173 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,711 psi | 89% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,954 psi | 80% | 1631 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,798 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,985 psi | 85% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,550 psi | 86% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,232 psi | 88% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,305 psi | 88% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 34,621 psi | 80% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,116 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,797 psi | 87% | 1604 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,882 psi | 82% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,345 psi | 35% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,434 psi | 84% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,548 psi | 79% | 1631 fps | 90.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,681 psi | 87% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,101 psi | 88% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,870 psi | 89% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,363 psi | 88% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,201 psi | 83% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,348 psi | 88% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,551 psi | 89% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,608 psi | 84% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,869 psi | 87% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,405 psi | 86% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,605 psi | 31% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,869 psi | 85% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,405 psi | 84% | 1647 fps | 93.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,782 psi | 87% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,114 psi | 81% | 1650 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,548 psi | 79% | 1631 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,957 psi | 90% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,753 psi | 84% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,795 psi | 82% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,304 psi | 86% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,348 psi | 88% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,101 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 34,650 psi | 80% | 1637 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,043 psi | 85% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,100 psi | 83% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,101 psi | 88% | 1650 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,942 psi | 87% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,653 psi | 89% | 1667 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,866 psi | 76% | 1640 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,348 psi | 88% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,240 psi | 67% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,565 psi | 86% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,390 psi | 84% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,013 psi | 83% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,128 psi | 81% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,144 psi | 85% | 1493 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 6"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 51% | 1283 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 68% | 1542 fps | 87.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 54% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 45% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 8.4 gr | 68% | 16,230 psi | 37% | 1181 fps | 86.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,065 psi | 65% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 59% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 57% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 53% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 56% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 46% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,153 psi | 67% | 1519 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 59% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 52% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,779 psi | 32% | 1093 fps | 97% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 43% | 1283 fps | 87.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 50% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,298 psi | 67% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 45% | 1253 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 51% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,634 psi | 31% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 55% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,262 psi | 47% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,471 psi | 65% | 1453 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,096 psi | 71% | 1496 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,367 psi | 15% | 748 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 54% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 68% | 1542 fps | 87.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,356 psi | 67% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 52% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 42% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 45% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,958 psi | 48% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 52% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 60% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,311 psi | 65% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,242 psi | 74% | 1509 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,686 psi | 59% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,802 psi | 13% | 738 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,144 psi | 42% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,947 psi | 57% | 1430 fps | 86.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,849 psi | 69% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10.7 gr | 60% | 12,154 psi | 28% | 1129 fps | 85.5% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 68% | 1542 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 42% | 1184 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,308 psi | 54% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 52% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,659 psi | 64% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 7.8 gr | 60% | 15,302 psi | 35% | 1135 fps | 91.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 50% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 46% | 1342 fps | 91.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 53% | 1319 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 48% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 56% | 1401 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,912 psi | 41% | 1234 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,654 psi | 50% | 1352 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,856 psi | 46% | 1368 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 56% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,516 psi | 26% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 53% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 46% | 1240 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,403 psi | 35% | 1161 fps | 93% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,270 psi | 72% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,855 psi | 43% | 1198 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 64 powders for .357 Mag. loaded with the .356 | 120gr | LEE Mold 356-120-TC. Vihtavuori 3N38 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,667 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,030 fps to 1,667 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 35 of the 64 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (300 MPa), the top charges use 31–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant BLUE DOT, Alliant Herco 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. Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, ADI AP 100 rank at the top here: for .357 Mag. with the .356 | 120gr | LEE Mold 356-120-TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 7, Alliant BLUE DOT, Lovex D037.1 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays 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.