Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP bullet and 62 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 40,045 psi | 89% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,868 psi | 80% | 1824 fps | 97% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,230 psi | 81% | 1827 fps | 92.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,173 psi | 83% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,956 psi | 84% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,506 psi | 81% | 1824 fps | 94.1% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,956 psi | 82% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,885 psi | 86% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,320 psi | 87% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,987 psi | 89% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,508 psi | 88% | 1909 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,784 psi | 88% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,521 psi | 81% | 1827 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,305 psi | 87% | 1722 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,030 psi | 89% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,072 psi | 85% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,129 psi | 80% | 1811 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,551 psi | 86% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,841 psi | 86% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,115 psi | 83% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,074 psi | 89% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,434 psi | 83% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,537 psi | 86% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,608 psi | 81% | 1936 fps | 91.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,872 psi | 49% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,176 psi | 89% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,868 psi | 80% | 1824 fps | 97% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,130 psi | 83% | 1841 fps | 93.2% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,188 psi | 83% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,247 psi | 87% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,465 psi | 88% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,059 psi | 87% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,536 psi | 83% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,306 psi | 90% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,653 psi | 88% | 1919 fps | 92.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,639 psi | 46% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,725 psi | 86% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,421 psi | 85% | 1854 fps | 98.9% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 72% | 35,694 psi | 79% | 1781 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,130 psi | 83% | 1841 fps | 93.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,868 psi | 80% | 1824 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,769 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,986 psi | 87% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,363 psi | 85% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,059 psi | 89% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,659 psi | 62% | 1673 fps | 88.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,045 psi | 89% | 1759 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,695 psi | 84% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,376 psi | 83% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,437 psi | 90% | 1729 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,885 psi | 89% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,465 psi | 88% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,015 psi | 87% | 1844 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,640 psi | 90% | 1906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,621 psi | 77% | 1844 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,695 psi | 82% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,696 psi | 86% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,463 psi | 83% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,451 psi | 90% | 1699 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,377 psi | 85% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,579 psi | 84% | 1624 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% | 30,792 psi | 68% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 68% | 1722 fps | 95% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,137 psi | 60% | 1640 fps | 87.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,458 psi | 68% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,601 psi | 61% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 53% | 1552 fps | 86.5% |
| ADI AP 100² | 11.3 gr | 60% | 19,043 psi | 42% | 1391 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,589 psi | 68% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,588 psi | 66% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,573 psi | 66% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,460 psi | 72% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,951 psi | 69% | 1745 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,369 psi | 63% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,421 psi | 45% | 1463 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,650 psi | 77% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,936 psi | 67% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 10.3 gr | 60% | 20,798 psi | 46% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,268 psi | 63% | 1657 fps | 99% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,732 psi | 64% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,021 psi | 62% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,921 psi | 67% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 9.6 gr | 60% | 19,943 psi | 44% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,982 psi | 73% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 56% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,180 psi | 60% | 1739 fps | 85.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,037 psi | 22% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,387 psi | 72% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 68% | 1722 fps | 95% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 53% | 1562 fps | 85.2% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,199 psi | 74% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,889 psi | 58% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,080 psi | 65% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,718 psi | 64% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,255 psi | 67% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,098 psi | 74% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,182 psi | 67% | 1739 fps | 88% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,514 psi | 21% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,325 psi | 61% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,991 psi | 58% | 1608 fps | 94.5% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,612 psi | 53% | 1555 fps | 99.9% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 53% | 1562 fps | 85.2% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,661 psi | 68% | 1722 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,962 psi | 58% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,937 psi | 69% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,284 psi | 67% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,286 psi | 74% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,787 psi | 55% | 1608 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 51% | 1453 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,356 psi | 68% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,358 psi | 72% | 1736 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,068 psi | 71% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,950 psi | 64% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,093 psi | 60% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 42% | 1404 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N105*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,867 psi | 35% | 1368 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,296 psi | 61% | 1693 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,098 psi | 74% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 38% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,851 psi | 73% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,572 psi | 64% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 52% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,035 psi | 60% | 1457 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 62 powders for .357 Maximum loaded with the .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,936 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,247 fps to 1,936 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 of the 62 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (310 MPa), the top charges use 46–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 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. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP 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.