Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .357 | 125gr | Barnes TAC-XP bullet and 66 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N105, Vihtavuori 3N38 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>> | 72% | 40,379 psi | 90% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 68% | 35,766 psi | 80% | 1775 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,462 psi | 79% | 1759 fps | 90.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,058 psi | 85% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,348 psi | 85% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,955 psi | 80% | 1765 fps | 92.3% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,900 psi | 89% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,118 psi | 89% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,884 psi | 84% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,292 psi | 90% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,292 psi | 90% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,640 psi | 90% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,101 psi | 85% | 1831 fps | 89.2% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,769 psi | 88% | 1831 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,450 psi | 88% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,289 psi | 83% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,391 psi | 83% | 1644 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,509 psi | 90% | 1837 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,088 psi | 87% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,176 psi | 89% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,102 psi | 87% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,942 psi | 84% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,407 psi | 88% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,464 psi | 86% | 1923 fps | 90.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,320 psi | 45% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,782 psi | 82% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 35,766 psi | 80% | 1775 fps | 95.8% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,506 psi | 81% | 1778 fps | 91.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,219 psi | 89% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,826 psi | 84% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,523 psi | 88% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,929 psi | 89% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,016 psi | 89% | 1558 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,479 psi | 86% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,608 psi | 84% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,420 psi | 83% | 1831 fps | 90.1% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,422 psi | 90% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,594 psi | 84% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,855 psi | 42% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,609 psi | 86% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,724 psi | 84% | 1795 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,624 psi | 88% | 1804 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,506 psi | 81% | 1778 fps | 91.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 35,766 psi | 80% | 1775 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 88% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,334 psi | 87% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,551 psi | 86% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,203 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,871 psi | 89% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,348 psi | 85% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,043 psi | 82% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,086 psi | 82% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 40,509 psi | 90% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,971 psi | 84% | 1762 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,233 psi | 87% | 1719 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,550 psi | 84% | 1775 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,116 psi | 85% | 1827 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,463 psi | 83% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,463 psi | 81% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,739 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,593 psi | 81% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,724 psi | 84% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,797 psi | 84% | 1581 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% | 28,384 psi | 63% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,760 psi | 60% | 1598 fps | 91.5% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,847 psi | 60% | 1591 fps | 85.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 63% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,251 psi | 56% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,166 psi | 60% | 1594 fps | 87.5% |
| ADI AP 100*² | 9.3 gr | 60% | 17,013 psi | 38% | 1289 fps | 92.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,505 psi | 79% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,588 psi | 66% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,949 psi | 62% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,181 psi | 63% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,574 psi | 68% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,562 psi | 75% | 1752 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,802 psi | 57% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,552 psi | 46% | 1427 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,111 psi | 71% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,804 psi | 62% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 42% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,976 psi | 56% | 1542 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,992 psi | 60% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 36,158 psi | 80% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 57% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,644 psi | 61% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 41% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,095 psi | 67% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 53% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,156 psi | 74% | 1824 fps | 87.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,442 psi | 21% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,979 psi | 67% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,760 psi | 60% | 1598 fps | 91.5% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,673 psi | 62% | 1608 fps | 86.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,940 psi | 80% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,965 psi | 67% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,656 psi | 53% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,194 psi | 58% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 59% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,065 psi | 62% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,734 psi | 68% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 64% | 1670 fps | 85.4% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,520 psi | 79% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,634 psi | 75% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,021 psi | 20% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,511 psi | 55% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 51% | 1483 fps | 91% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,160 psi | 45% | 1447 fps | 98.8% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,673 psi | 62% | 1608 fps | 86.3% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,760 psi | 60% | 1598 fps | 91.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 53% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,877 psi | 64% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,108 psi | 63% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,618 psi | 70% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 46% | 1358 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,528 psi | 61% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,253 psi | 63% | 1617 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,037 psi | 65% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 58% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,257 psi | 74% | 1683 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 54% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | 10.7 gr | 60% | 16,375 psi | 36% | 1296 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | 10.6 gr | 60% | 13,793 psi | 31% | 1263 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,574 psi | 68% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,041 psi | 36% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,878 psi | 66% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 58% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 47% | 1391 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,729 psi | 55% | 1378 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 66 powders for .357 Maximum loaded with the .357 | 125gr | Barnes TAC-XP. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,923 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,181 fps to 1,923 fps. Hodgdon LilGun gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 of the 66 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (310 MPa), the top charges use 42–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon LilGun, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, Vihtavuori 3N38, ADI AP 100 rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .357 | 125gr | Barnes TAC-XP 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.