Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-TC bullet and 63 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% | 37,391 psi | 83% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,362 psi | 83% | 1850 fps | 97% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,217 psi | 83% | 1844 fps | 92.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,914 psi | 87% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,653 psi | 88% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,492 psi | 83% | 1841 fps | 93.9% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,724 psi | 84% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,132 psi | 89% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,885 psi | 86% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,942 psi | 84% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,579 psi | 84% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,550 psi | 84% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,089 psi | 89% | 1919 fps | 91.2% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,985 psi | 82% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,666 psi | 82% | 1831 fps | 96% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,593 psi | 81% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,652 psi | 84% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,999 psi | 82% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,204 psi | 87% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,089 psi | 89% | 1736 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,754 psi | 86% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,478 psi | 83% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,291 psi | 87% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,045 psi | 89% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 35,940 psi | 80% | 1926 fps | 90.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,740 psi | 44% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,014 psi | 82% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,362 psi | 83% | 1850 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,667 psi | 86% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,408 psi | 90% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,582 psi | 90% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,985 psi | 82% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,131 psi | 87% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,130 psi | 85% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,856 psi | 89% | 1919 fps | 92.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,840 psi | 84% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,854 psi | 40% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,726 psi | 88% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,813 psi | 89% | 1877 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,766 psi | 80% | 1791 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 93% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,362 psi | 83% | 1850 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,043 psi | 82% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,437 psi | 90% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,755 psi | 88% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,551 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 36,666 psi | 82% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,233 psi | 87% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,319 psi | 85% | 1844 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,405 psi | 83% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,333 psi | 83% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,044 psi | 87% | 1834 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,176 psi | 89% | 1778 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,334 psi | 87% | 1850 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,147 psi | 89% | 1903 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,711 psi | 86% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,216 psi | 81% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,885 psi | 86% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,884 psi | 84% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,044 psi | 87% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,580 psi | 86% | 1637 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% | 28,500 psi | 63% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,224 psi | 61% | 1654 fps | 92.6% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,862 psi | 62% | 1660 fps | 87.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,689 psi | 64% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 56% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 23,931 psi | 53% | 1562 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.5 gr | 60% | 16,723 psi | 37% | 1325 fps | 93.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,810 psi | 80% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,428 psi | 65% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,616 psi | 64% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,905 psi | 62% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,298 psi | 67% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 68% | 1742 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,179 psi | 58% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,291 psi | 45% | 1467 fps | 86% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,387 psi | 72% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,717 psi | 62% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,333 psi | 41% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 56% | 1594 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,861 psi | 60% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,295 psi | 56% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,456 psi | 61% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 40% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,574 psi | 68% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 53% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,705 psi | 68% | 1821 fps | 86.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,267 psi | 18% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,544 psi | 66% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,224 psi | 61% | 1654 fps | 92.6% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 64% | 1677 fps | 88.1% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,052 psi | 67% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 53% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 58% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 59% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,282 psi | 63% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,183 psi | 69% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,820 psi | 66% | 1736 fps | 87.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,562 psi | 75% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,571 psi | 17% | 892 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,308 psi | 54% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 51% | 1539 fps | 92% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 43% | 1467 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 64% | 1677 fps | 88.1% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,224 psi | 61% | 1654 fps | 92.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 53% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,109 psi | 65% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 63% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,981 psi | 71% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,465 psi | 46% | 1404 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,992 psi | 62% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,819 psi | 64% | 1677 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,312 psi | 65% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 59% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,533 psi | 75% | 1739 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,468 psi | 54% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 12.1 gr | 60% | 15,969 psi | 36% | 1329 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 12 gr | 60% | 13,227 psi | 29% | 1283 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,371 psi | 68% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 33% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,255 psi | 67% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,165 psi | 58% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 47% | 1437 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 55% | 1424 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 63 powders for .357 Maximum loaded with the .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-TC. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,926 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,214 fps to 1,926 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 of the 63 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (310 MPa), the top charges use 40–90 %, 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 .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-TC 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, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.