Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .355 | 115gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 7.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,768 psi | 84% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,247 psi | 85% | 1900 fps | 91.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,088 psi | 87% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,624 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,971 psi | 84% | 1886 fps | 92.5% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,666 psi | 84% | 1831 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,754 psi | 86% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,956 psi | 84% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,319 psi | 85% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,493 psi | 86% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,027 psi | 80% | 1880 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,637 psi | 84% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,550 psi | 84% | 1883 fps | 95% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,883 psi | 82% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,609 psi | 86% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,537 psi | 88% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,550 psi | 84% | 1883 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,405 psi | 83% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,217 psi | 83% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,407 psi | 88% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,711 psi | 88% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,205 psi | 89% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,477 psi | 81% | 1975 fps | 88.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,393 psi | 48% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,551 psi | 86% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 96.2% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,204 psi | 87% | 1913 fps | 91.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,784 psi | 88% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,524 psi | 90% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,406 psi | 85% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,683 psi | 90% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,537 psi | 88% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,131 psi | 87% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,853 psi | 80% | 1886 fps | 88.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,711 psi | 88% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,465 psi | 46% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,958 psi | 89% | 1762 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,132 psi | 89% | 1926 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,855 psi | 84% | 1867 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,204 psi | 87% | 1913 fps | 91.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,579 psi | 84% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,014 psi | 82% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,263 psi | 90% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,551 psi | 86% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,304 psi | 83% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,508 psi | 88% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,755 psi | 88% | 1909 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,493 psi | 86% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,652 psi | 84% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,118 psi | 89% | 1890 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,927 psi | 82% | 1778 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,943 psi | 89% | 1903 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,640 psi | 90% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,523 psi | 88% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,768 psi | 84% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,175 psi | 87% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 88% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,987 psi | 89% | 1699 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% | 29,631 psi | 66% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 64% | 1716 fps | 91.9% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,211 psi | 65% | 1719 fps | 86.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,950 psi | 64% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,469 psi | 59% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,657 psi | 57% | 1634 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.3 gr | 60% | 18,521 psi | 41% | 1401 fps | 93.5% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,965 psi | 67% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,182 psi | 65% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,269 psi | 65% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,821 psi | 71% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,169 psi | 72% | 1804 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 61% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,089 psi | 49% | 1535 fps | 86% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,301 psi | 74% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,240 psi | 65% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 45% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,600 psi | 59% | 1657 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 63% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,296 psi | 61% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,805 psi | 64% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 43% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,647 psi | 70% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,511 psi | 55% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,937 psi | 71% | 1880 fps | 85.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,675 psi | 24% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,111 psi | 69% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 64% | 1716 fps | 91.9% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,573 psi | 66% | 1726 fps | 86.9% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,328 psi | 70% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,947 psi | 55% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,818 psi | 62% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,992 psi | 62% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,428 psi | 65% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,184 psi | 72% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,125 psi | 69% | 1795 fps | 86.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,462 psi | 79% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,298 psi | 23% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 58% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 54% | 1598 fps | 91.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 51% | 1572 fps | 99.3% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,573 psi | 66% | 1726 fps | 86.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 64% | 1716 fps | 91.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 55% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,776 psi | 66% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,037 psi | 65% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,995 psi | 71% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 49% | 1463 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,993 psi | 64% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,472 psi | 68% | 1745 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,516 psi | 68% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,615 psi | 61% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,244 psi | 78% | 1808 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,614 psi | 57% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 11.8 gr | 60% | 18,057 psi | 40% | 1411 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 11.6 gr | 60% | 15,287 psi | 34% | 1375 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,865 psi | 71% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 38% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,328 psi | 70% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,354 psi | 61% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,626 psi | 50% | 1499 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,382 psi | 59% | 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 | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,975 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,263 fps to 1,975 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 46–90 %, 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 | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator 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.