Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R 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, ADI AP 100 and Alliant Herco.
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% | 38,174 psi | 85% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,101 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,754 psi | 86% | 1867 fps | 93.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,059 psi | 87% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,379 psi | 90% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,566 psi | 86% | 1860 fps | 94.6% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,638 psi | 86% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,059 psi | 87% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,043 psi | 85% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,782 psi | 84% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,753 psi | 84% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,187 psi | 80% | 1850 fps | 89.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,565 psi | 84% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,855 psi | 84% | 1854 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,405 psi | 83% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,464 psi | 86% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,812 psi | 86% | 1706 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,043 psi | 85% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,089 psi | 89% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,593 psi | 81% | 1683 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,856 psi | 86% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,942 psi | 84% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,552 psi | 88% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,666 psi | 84% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,884 psi | 84% | 1959 fps | 91.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,044 psi | 45% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,797 psi | 84% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,101 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,769 psi | 88% | 1886 fps | 93.9% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,405 psi | 83% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,956 psi | 82% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,291 psi | 87% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,001 psi | 87% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,752 psi | 80% | 1847 fps | 90.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,682 psi | 86% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,521 psi | 41% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,408 psi | 90% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,640 psi | 90% | 1890 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,521 psi | 81% | 1798 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,769 psi | 88% | 1886 fps | 93.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,101 psi | 85% | 1860 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,623 psi | 84% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,985 psi | 82% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,653 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,914 psi | 89% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,465 psi | 88% | 1857 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,000 psi | 85% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,842 psi | 89% | 1844 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,651 psi | 82% | 1726 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,176 psi | 89% | 1860 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,898 psi | 82% | 1850 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,328 psi | 70% | 1778 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,914 psi | 87% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,796 psi | 82% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,653 psi | 88% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,551 psi | 86% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,147 psi | 89% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,581 psi | 88% | 1647 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% | 29,312 psi | 65% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,978 psi | 62% | 1667 fps | 93.3% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,410 psi | 54% | 1578 fps | 85.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,022 psi | 65% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,918 psi | 58% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,932 psi | 55% | 1588 fps | 87.2% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.8 gr | 60% | 17,245 psi | 38% | 1342 fps | 93.9% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,805 psi | 66% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,906 psi | 64% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 63% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,632 psi | 68% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,662 psi | 70% | 1762 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,368 psi | 59% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,016 psi | 47% | 1483 fps | 87% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,228 psi | 74% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,079 psi | 62% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 9.8 gr | 60% | 18,594 psi | 41% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,875 psi | 58% | 1604 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,311 psi | 61% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 58% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,282 psi | 63% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 40% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,995 psi | 69% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 54% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,775 psi | 62% | 1752 fps | 85.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,630 psi | 19% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,385 psi | 68% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,978 psi | 62% | 1667 fps | 93.3% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,121 psi | 56% | 1598 fps | 85.9% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,864 psi | 69% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,221 psi | 54% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,353 psi | 59% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,064 psi | 60% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,196 psi | 65% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,531 psi | 70% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,832 psi | 60% | 1667 fps | 85.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,432 psi | 77% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,905 psi | 18% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,106 psi | 56% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 53% | 1558 fps | 92.9% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 45% | 1483 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,121 psi | 56% | 1598 fps | 85.9% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,978 psi | 62% | 1667 fps | 93.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 54% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,762 psi | 66% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,066 psi | 65% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,213 psi | 72% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,002 psi | 47% | 1414 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,253 psi | 63% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,428 psi | 65% | 1686 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,994 psi | 67% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,832 psi | 60% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,824 psi | 77% | 1762 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 56% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 37% | 1339 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 12.3 gr | 60% | 13,692 psi | 30% | 1296 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,499 psi | 61% | 1699 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,299 psi | 70% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,432 psi | 34% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,096 psi | 69% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 60% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 48% | 1440 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,005 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 | LEE Mold 356-125-2R. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,959 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,217 fps to 1,959 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 41–90 %, 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, ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R 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.