Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .356 | 125gr | H&N RN 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 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% | 37,782 psi | 84% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1854 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,913 psi | 84% | 1850 fps | 93.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,638 psi | 86% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,016 psi | 89% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,203 psi | 85% | 1850 fps | 94.4% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,014 psi | 85% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,509 psi | 90% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,580 psi | 86% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,637 psi | 84% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,304 psi | 83% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,927 psi | 84% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,306 psi | 90% | 1916 fps | 91.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,304 psi | 83% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,405 psi | 83% | 1841 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,985 psi | 82% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,233 psi | 87% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,624 psi | 86% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,869 psi | 84% | 1834 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,595 psi | 88% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,451 psi | 90% | 1736 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,117 psi | 87% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,739 psi | 84% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,508 psi | 88% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,335 psi | 90% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,637 psi | 81% | 1936 fps | 90.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,044 psi | 45% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,391 psi | 83% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1854 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,914 psi | 87% | 1867 fps | 93.5% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,044 psi | 87% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,057 psi | 82% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,495 psi | 90% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,841 psi | 86% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,522 psi | 86% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,611 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 92.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,144 psi | 40% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,089 psi | 89% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,074 psi | 89% | 1877 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,027 psi | 80% | 1788 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,914 psi | 87% | 1867 fps | 93.5% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1854 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,347 psi | 83% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,709 psi | 82% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,870 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,492 psi | 83% | 1719 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,552 psi | 88% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,667 psi | 86% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,739 psi | 84% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,681 psi | 84% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,276 psi | 87% | 1831 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,448 psi | 81% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,610 psi | 88% | 1850 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,245 psi | 81% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,421 psi | 85% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,506 psi | 81% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,276 psi | 87% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,232 psi | 85% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,363 psi | 88% | 1755 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,856 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% | 28,877 psi | 64% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,499 psi | 61% | 1657 fps | 93% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 62% | 1660 fps | 88% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,500 psi | 63% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,440 psi | 57% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,497 psi | 54% | 1575 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.6 gr | 60% | 16,969 psi | 38% | 1329 fps | 93.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,172 psi | 80% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,820 psi | 66% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 63% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 63% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,705 psi | 68% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,270 psi | 70% | 1752 fps | 87% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,020 psi | 58% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,523 psi | 46% | 1467 fps | 86.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,764 psi | 73% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,312 psi | 65% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 41% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,585 psi | 57% | 1594 fps | 98% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,267 psi | 61% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 57% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,818 psi | 62% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,840 psi | 40% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,835 psi | 69% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 54% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,328 psi | 70% | 1834 fps | 87.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,514 psi | 19% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,907 psi | 67% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,499 psi | 61% | 1657 fps | 93% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,714 psi | 55% | 1585 fps | 85.5% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,414 psi | 68% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,772 psi | 53% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,353 psi | 59% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,093 psi | 60% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,674 psi | 64% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,560 psi | 70% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,458 psi | 68% | 1742 fps | 87.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,939 psi | 75% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,789 psi | 17% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,685 psi | 55% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 52% | 1539 fps | 92.4% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 44% | 1470 fps | 99% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,714 psi | 55% | 1585 fps | 85.5% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,499 psi | 61% | 1657 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 54% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,399 psi | 65% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,703 psi | 64% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,734 psi | 71% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,726 psi | 46% | 1404 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,340 psi | 63% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,153 psi | 65% | 1677 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,631 psi | 66% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,905 psi | 60% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,272 psi | 76% | 1749 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,772 psi | 55% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 12.2 gr | 60% | 16,201 psi | 36% | 1332 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 12.1 gr | 60% | 13,445 psi | 30% | 1289 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,777 psi | 68% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,982 psi | 33% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 68% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,498 psi | 59% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 48% | 1440 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,106 psi | 56% | 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 | 125gr | H&N RN HS. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,936 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,217 fps to 1,936 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 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 | 125gr | H&N RN HS 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.