Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch bullet and 62 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AP 100, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol and Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star.
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% | 40,263 psi | 90% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,666 psi | 82% | 1850 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,086 psi | 82% | 1857 fps | 92.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,260 psi | 83% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,928 psi | 87% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,275 psi | 83% | 1854 fps | 93.8% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,652 psi | 84% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,900 psi | 89% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,407 psi | 88% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,263 psi | 90% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,408 psi | 90% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,538 psi | 90% | 1939 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,480 psi | 90% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,623 psi | 84% | 1864 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,479 psi | 88% | 1742 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,536 psi | 83% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,522 psi | 86% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,825 psi | 82% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,899 psi | 87% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,161 psi | 89% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,492 psi | 83% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,782 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,160 psi | 87% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,333 psi | 83% | 1965 fps | 90.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,713 psi | 51% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,927 psi | 82% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,666 psi | 82% | 1850 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,985 psi | 84% | 1870 fps | 92.9% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,898 psi | 84% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,682 psi | 88% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,883 psi | 82% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,378 psi | 88% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,739 psi | 84% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,422 psi | 90% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,364 psi | 90% | 1942 fps | 92.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,741 psi | 48% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,291 psi | 87% | 1719 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,841 psi | 86% | 1880 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,362 psi | 83% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,985 psi | 84% | 1870 fps | 92.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,666 psi | 82% | 1850 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,132 psi | 89% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,291 psi | 87% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,682 psi | 86% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,016 psi | 89% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,326 psi | 63% | 1696 fps | 88.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,767 psi | 82% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,159 psi | 85% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,000 psi | 85% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,738 psi | 82% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,335 psi | 90% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,740 psi | 88% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,595 psi | 88% | 1873 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,419 psi | 81% | 1860 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,723 psi | 79% | 1877 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,724 psi | 84% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,045 psi | 89% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,058 psi | 85% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,985 psi | 82% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,493 psi | 86% | 1765 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1650 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% | 31,662 psi | 70% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,995 psi | 71% | 1762 fps | 95% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,065 psi | 62% | 1673 fps | 87.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,574 psi | 68% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,079 psi | 62% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 55% | 1585 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI AP 100² | 11.1 gr | 60% | 19,914 psi | 44% | 1421 fps | 95.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,995 psi | 69% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,037 psi | 67% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,458 psi | 68% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,417 psi | 74% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 32,024 psi | 71% | 1778 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,095 psi | 65% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,654 psi | 48% | 1503 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,418 psi | 79% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,893 psi | 69% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 48% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,037 psi | 65% | 1686 fps | 99% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,660 psi | 66% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,283 psi | 65% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,356 psi | 68% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 9.5 gr | 60% | 21,147 psi | 47% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,794 psi | 75% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,541 psi | 57% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 32,213 psi | 72% | 1867 fps | 87.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,240 psi | 25% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,170 psi | 74% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,995 psi | 71% | 1762 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,164 psi | 56% | 1601 fps | 85.6% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,910 psi | 75% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,469 psi | 59% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,081 psi | 67% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,617 psi | 66% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,053 psi | 69% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,866 psi | 75% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,137 psi | 60% | 1683 fps | 85.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,849 psi | 24% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,021 psi | 62% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,600 psi | 59% | 1631 fps | 94.3% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 56% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,164 psi | 56% | 1601 fps | 85.6% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,995 psi | 71% | 1762 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,426 psi | 59% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,763 psi | 71% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,140 psi | 69% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,228 psi | 74% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 25,585 psi | 57% | 1631 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 52% | 1483 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,908 psi | 69% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,605 psi | 75% | 1772 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,735 psi | 73% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,457 psi | 66% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,963 psi | 62% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,928 psi | 44% | 1444 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,245 psi | 38% | 1417 fps | 92.2% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,079 psi | 62% | 1719 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,562 psi | 75% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 7.4 gr | 60% | 18,420 psi | 41% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,011 psi | 76% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,733 psi | 66% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,627 psi | 55% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,891 psi | 62% | 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 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,965 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,266 fps to 1,965 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 48–90 %, 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. ADI AP 100, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch 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.