Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .355 | 116gr | Norma SPFN 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% | 37,695 psi | 84% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,479 psi | 86% | 1929 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,377 psi | 85% | 1919 fps | 92.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,812 psi | 86% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,030 psi | 89% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1913 fps | 93.4% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,971 psi | 84% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,001 psi | 87% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,884 psi | 84% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,956 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,508 psi | 86% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,506 psi | 81% | 1909 fps | 88.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,942 psi | 84% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,753 psi | 84% | 1913 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,057 psi | 82% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,233 psi | 87% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,058 psi | 85% | 1909 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,263 psi | 90% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,625 psi | 90% | 1808 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,305 psi | 87% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,768 psi | 84% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,769 psi | 88% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,480 psi | 90% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,492 psi | 83% | 2008 fps | 89.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,697 psi | 46% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,000 psi | 85% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,479 psi | 86% | 1929 fps | 96.7% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,378 psi | 88% | 1939 fps | 92.7% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,842 psi | 89% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,217 psi | 83% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,753 psi | 84% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,623 psi | 84% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,711 psi | 88% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,972 psi | 87% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,998 psi | 80% | 1909 fps | 89.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,015 psi | 87% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,464 psi | 43% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,524 psi | 90% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,306 psi | 90% | 1949 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,478 psi | 83% | 1877 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,378 psi | 88% | 1939 fps | 92.7% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,479 psi | 86% | 1929 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,768 psi | 84% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,217 psi | 83% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,379 psi | 90% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,073 psi | 87% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,608 psi | 84% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,639 psi | 88% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,146 psi | 87% | 1916 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,348 psi | 85% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,782 psi | 84% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,045 psi | 89% | 1909 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,811 psi | 82% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,958 psi | 89% | 1923 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,738 psi | 82% | 1913 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,856 psi | 86% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,521 psi | 83% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,421 psi | 88% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,247 psi | 85% | 1732 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,089 psi | 89% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,349 psi | 88% | 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% | 29,211 psi | 65% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 63% | 1729 fps | 92.5% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 64% | 1732 fps | 87.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,095 psi | 65% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 58% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,280 psi | 56% | 1644 fps | 86.1% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.9 gr | 60% | 17,637 psi | 39% | 1391 fps | 93.1% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,965 psi | 67% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,993 psi | 64% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,718 psi | 64% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,980 psi | 69% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,198 psi | 72% | 1827 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,079 psi | 60% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,335 psi | 47% | 1535 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,040 psi | 73% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,485 psi | 63% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 43% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,353 psi | 59% | 1670 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,804 psi | 62% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,513 psi | 59% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,500 psi | 63% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 42% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,459 psi | 70% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 54% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 32,358 psi | 72% | 1909 fps | 86.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,427 psi | 21% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,835 psi | 69% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 63% | 1729 fps | 92.5% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,776 psi | 66% | 1752 fps | 87.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,995 psi | 69% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,511 psi | 55% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,963 psi | 60% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,267 psi | 61% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,341 psi | 65% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,676 psi | 70% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,241 psi | 69% | 1814 fps | 87% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,925 psi | 78% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,920 psi | 20% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,237 psi | 56% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 53% | 1608 fps | 91.8% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 48% | 1562 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,776 psi | 66% | 1752 fps | 87.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 63% | 1729 fps | 92.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,642 psi | 55% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,704 psi | 66% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,964 psi | 64% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,184 psi | 72% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 47% | 1470 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,921 psi | 64% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,066 psi | 67% | 1755 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,589 psi | 68% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,514 psi | 61% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,780 psi | 77% | 1818 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,222 psi | 56% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 12.6 gr | 60% | 17,231 psi | 38% | 1404 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 12.4 gr | 60% | 14,330 psi | 32% | 1358 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,502 psi | 70% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 36% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,212 psi | 69% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,079 psi | 60% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 49% | 1506 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,773 psi | 57% | 1493 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 | 116gr | Norma SPFN. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,008 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,273 fps to 2,008 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 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 | 116gr | Norma SPFN 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.