Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .356 | 125gr | H&N HP HS 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 N105, Alliant BLUE DOT 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 4100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,667 psi | 86% | 1864 fps | 87.7% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,508 psi | 86% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,595 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,784 psi | 88% | 1873 fps | 93.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,842 psi | 89% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,043 psi | 82% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,508 psi | 88% | 1867 fps | 94.8% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,494 psi | 88% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,552 psi | 88% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,812 psi | 86% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,943 psi | 87% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,869 psi | 84% | 1870 fps | 90.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,290 psi | 85% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,218 psi | 87% | 1864 fps | 96.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,710 psi | 84% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,668 psi | 88% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,914 psi | 89% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,928 psi | 87% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,289 psi | 83% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,072 psi | 85% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,929 psi | 89% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,740 psi | 86% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,451 psi | 90% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,290 psi | 85% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,928 psi | 87% | 1969 fps | 91.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,234 psi | 47% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,305 psi | 87% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,595 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 35,418 psi | 79% | 1801 fps | 92.1% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,318 psi | 81% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,942 psi | 84% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,522 psi | 86% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,145 psi | 85% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,205 psi | 89% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,160 psi | 87% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,217 psi | 83% | 1864 fps | 91.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,740 psi | 88% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,044 psi | 45% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,463 psi | 83% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,521 psi | 81% | 1811 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,783 psi | 86% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 35,418 psi | 79% | 1801 fps | 92.1% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,595 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,682 psi | 86% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,971 psi | 84% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,289 psi | 83% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,189 psi | 87% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,435 psi | 85% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,451 psi | 90% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,853 psi | 80% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,378 psi | 88% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,638 psi | 86% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,217 psi | 83% | 1804 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,421 psi | 85% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,692 psi | 73% | 1795 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,159 psi | 85% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,247 psi | 87% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,941 psi | 82% | 1713 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,495 psi | 90% | 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 4100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,040 psi | 76% | 1778 fps | 85.3% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,284 psi | 67% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,414 psi | 65% | 1690 fps | 94.1% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,788 psi | 57% | 1598 fps | 86.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,718 psi | 66% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,411 psi | 59% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 50% | 1512 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.7 gr | 60% | 18,347 psi | 41% | 1362 fps | 94.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,226 psi | 67% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,399 psi | 65% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,240 psi | 65% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,734 psi | 71% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 65% | 1699 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,572 psi | 61% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | 13.4 gr | 64% | 19,450 psi | 43% | 1424 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,113 psi | 76% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,153 psi | 65% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 44% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,166 psi | 60% | 1624 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 63% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,412 psi | 61% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,718 psi | 64% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 43% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,271 psi | 72% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 55% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,298 psi | 65% | 1781 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,747 psi | 22% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,270 psi | 70% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,414 psi | 65% | 1690 fps | 94.1% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,484 psi | 59% | 1617 fps | 86.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,169 psi | 72% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,237 psi | 56% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,833 psi | 62% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,949 psi | 62% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,472 psi | 66% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,285 psi | 72% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 63% | 1686 fps | 86.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,042 psi | 80% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,239 psi | 21% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 58% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 55% | 1572 fps | 93.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,292 psi | 50% | 1519 fps | 99.7% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,484 psi | 59% | 1617 fps | 86.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,414 psi | 65% | 1690 fps | 94.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,005 psi | 56% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,168 psi | 67% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,472 psi | 66% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,721 psi | 73% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 49% | 1430 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,312 psi | 65% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,256 psi | 70% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,270 psi | 70% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,934 psi | 62% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,991 psi | 58% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,854 psi | 40% | 1371 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 12.1 gr | 60% | 14,939 psi | 33% | 1332 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,790 psi | 64% | 1716 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,807 psi | 71% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,665 psi | 37% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,792 psi | 71% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,586 psi | 61% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,626 psi | 50% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,295 psi | 58% | 1437 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 | 125gr | H&N HP HS. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,969 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,227 fps to 1,969 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 45–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N110 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 N105, Alliant BLUE DOT, ADI AP 100 rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .356 | 125gr | H&N HP HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate 4100, Accurate No. 9, Accurate TCM 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.