Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .355 | 115gr | Geco FMJ bullet and 62 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori 3N38, Vihtavuori N105 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: 7.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,840 psi | 82% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1909 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,289 psi | 83% | 1900 fps | 91.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,580 psi | 86% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,218 psi | 87% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,521 psi | 83% | 1903 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,536 psi | 83% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,725 psi | 86% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,681 psi | 84% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,637 psi | 84% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1978 fps | 89.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,318 psi | 83% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,999 psi | 82% | 1896 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,480 psi | 90% | 1808 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,305 psi | 85% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,667 psi | 86% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,449 psi | 83% | 1903 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,914 psi | 89% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,842 psi | 89% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,464 psi | 86% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,596 psi | 90% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,421 psi | 88% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,552 psi | 88% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,984 psi | 80% | 1985 fps | 88.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,378 psi | 45% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,768 psi | 84% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1909 fps | 96.1% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,247 psi | 85% | 1919 fps | 91.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,972 psi | 87% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,958 psi | 89% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,538 psi | 90% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,422 psi | 90% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,841 psi | 86% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,000 psi | 85% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,740 psi | 88% | 1975 fps | 90.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,754 psi | 86% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,145 psi | 43% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,755 psi | 88% | 1778 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,392 psi | 88% | 1936 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,187 psi | 80% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,247 psi | 85% | 1919 fps | 91.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1909 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,451 psi | 90% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,437 psi | 90% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,740 psi | 88% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,290 psi | 85% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,130 psi | 83% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,914 psi | 87% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,464 psi | 86% | 1913 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,652 psi | 84% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,072 psi | 82% | 1719 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,131 psi | 87% | 1896 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,596 psi | 90% | 1854 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,073 psi | 87% | 1909 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,190 psi | 89% | 1972 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,537 psi | 86% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,898 psi | 82% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,508 psi | 86% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,463 psi | 83% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,928 psi | 87% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,812 psi | 86% | 1706 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 7.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,906 psi | 64% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,528 psi | 61% | 1713 fps | 91.6% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,934 psi | 62% | 1713 fps | 86.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,703 psi | 64% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 57% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,584 psi | 55% | 1627 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.7 gr | 60% | 17,376 psi | 39% | 1388 fps | 92.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,544 psi | 66% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,616 psi | 64% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,282 psi | 63% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,603 psi | 68% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,082 psi | 69% | 1801 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 59% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,914 psi | 47% | 1526 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,692 psi | 73% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,094 psi | 62% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 42% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,686 psi | 57% | 1657 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,340 psi | 61% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,150 psi | 58% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,108 psi | 63% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 41% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,995 psi | 69% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,124 psi | 67% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,995 psi | 69% | 1883 fps | 85.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,311 psi | 21% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,487 psi | 68% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,528 psi | 61% | 1713 fps | 91.6% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,703 psi | 64% | 1729 fps | 86.7% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,690 psi | 68% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 54% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,527 psi | 59% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,876 psi | 60% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,950 psi | 64% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,256 psi | 70% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 67% | 1795 fps | 85.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,563 psi | 77% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,804 psi | 20% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,874 psi | 55% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 52% | 1598 fps | 91.1% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 46% | 1542 fps | 98.6% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,703 psi | 64% | 1729 fps | 86.7% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,528 psi | 61% | 1713 fps | 91.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 53% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,022 psi | 65% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,253 psi | 63% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,894 psi | 71% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 47% | 1467 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,123 psi | 63% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,370 psi | 65% | 1745 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,820 psi | 66% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,745 psi | 59% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,301 psi | 76% | 1811 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 55% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 12.3 gr | 60% | 16,752 psi | 37% | 1391 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 12.1 gr | 60% | 13,851 psi | 31% | 1342 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,125 psi | 69% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,969 psi | 36% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,284 psi | 67% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 59% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 48% | 1493 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 56% | 1483 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 62 powders for .357 Maximum loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Geco FMJ. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,985 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,270 fps to 1,985 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 of the 62 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (310 MPa), the top charges use 43–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, 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. Vihtavuori 3N38, Vihtavuori N105, ADI AP 100 rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .355 | 115gr | Geco FMJ 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.