Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN Top Shelf 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% | 37,927 psi | 84% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 1854 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,044 psi | 87% | 1857 fps | 93.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,204 psi | 87% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,292 psi | 90% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,740 psi | 86% | 1847 fps | 94.4% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,812 psi | 86% | 1785 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,479 psi | 88% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,985 psi | 84% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,087 psi | 85% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,928 psi | 87% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,579 psi | 81% | 1837 fps | 89.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,927 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,319 psi | 85% | 1841 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,710 psi | 84% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,030 psi | 87% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,697 psi | 88% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,682 psi | 86% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,466 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,565 psi | 84% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,349 psi | 88% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,479 psi | 86% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,393 psi | 90% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,364 psi | 90% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 37,913 psi | 84% | 1946 fps | 91.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,045 psi | 47% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,711 psi | 86% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 1854 fps | 97.4% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,074 psi | 89% | 1873 fps | 93.7% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,434 psi | 83% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,898 psi | 84% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,565 psi | 84% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,566 psi | 88% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,073 psi | 87% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,477 psi | 81% | 1844 fps | 90.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,755 psi | 88% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,479 psi | 43% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,669 psi | 90% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,683 psi | 90% | 1873 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,855 psi | 84% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,074 psi | 89% | 1873 fps | 93.7% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 1854 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,695 psi | 84% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,014 psi | 82% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,393 psi | 90% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,233 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,739 psi | 84% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,001 psi | 89% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,987 psi | 89% | 1847 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,972 psi | 87% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,189 psi | 85% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,347 psi | 83% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,408 psi | 90% | 1850 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,188 psi | 83% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,517 psi | 70% | 1768 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,349 psi | 88% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,753 psi | 84% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,755 psi | 88% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,798 psi | 86% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,190 psi | 89% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,639 psi | 88% | 1634 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% | 29,617 psi | 66% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 64% | 1673 fps | 93.6% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,353 psi | 56% | 1585 fps | 85.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,515 psi | 66% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 58% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,396 psi | 56% | 1581 fps | 87.2% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 10.4 gr | 60% | 17,956 psi | 40% | 1345 fps | 94.3% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,979 psi | 67% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,196 psi | 65% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,964 psi | 64% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,546 psi | 70% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,489 psi | 72% | 1762 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,064 psi | 60% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,625 psi | 48% | 1486 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,417 psi | 74% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,906 psi | 64% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 44% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 59% | 1608 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,978 psi | 62% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,803 psi | 60% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 64% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 42% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,604 psi | 70% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,414 psi | 65% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,589 psi | 68% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,297 psi | 63% | 1752 fps | 85.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,703 psi | 22% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,140 psi | 69% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 64% | 1673 fps | 93.6% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,686 psi | 57% | 1591 fps | 86% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,546 psi | 70% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 55% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,601 psi | 61% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,775 psi | 62% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,254 psi | 65% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,068 psi | 71% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,456 psi | 61% | 1667 fps | 85.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,360 psi | 79% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,181 psi | 20% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,657 psi | 57% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 54% | 1549 fps | 92.9% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 48% | 1503 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,686 psi | 57% | 1591 fps | 86% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,863 psi | 64% | 1673 fps | 93.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,903 psi | 55% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,139 psi | 67% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,443 psi | 65% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,010 psi | 71% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 48% | 1414 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,689 psi | 64% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,371 psi | 68% | 1686 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,748 psi | 68% | 1568 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,340 psi | 61% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 57% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 12 gr | 60% | 17,521 psi | 39% | 1358 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 11.8 gr | 60% | 14,591 psi | 32% | 1316 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,094 psi | 62% | 1696 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,604 psi | 70% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 36% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,676 psi | 70% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,514 psi | 61% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 49% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,802 psi | 57% | 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 9 powders for .357 Maximum loaded with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN Top Shelf. Vihtavuori 3N38 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,850 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,217 fps to 1,850 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 9 of the 9 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (310 MPa), the top charges use 43–90 %, 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 | Rim Rock RN Top Shelf they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.