Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .357 | 158gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot bullet and 65 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14 and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 7.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 4100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,552 psi | 88% | 1677 fps | 92% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,434 psi | 83% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,885 psi | 86% | 1650 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate No. 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,320 psi | 87% | 1660 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,334 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,856 psi | 89% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,262 psi | 87% | 1654 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,450 psi | 88% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,956 psi | 84% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,190 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,507 psi | 83% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,579 psi | 84% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400* | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 85% | 1670 fps | 94.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,391 psi | 83% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,726 psi | 88% | 1660 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,392 psi | 85% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,016 psi | 89% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,580 psi | 86% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP* | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,190 psi | 89% | 1726 fps | 89.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,972 psi | 89% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,130 psi | 83% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,030 psi | 87% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,479 psi | 86% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,899 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,466 psi | 90% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,987 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun* | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,273 psi | 78% | 1699 fps | 93.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,163 psi | 52% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,276 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,885 psi | 86% | 1650 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D037.2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,393 psi | 90% | 1677 fps | 97% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,610 psi | 88% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,695 psi | 84% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,666 psi | 84% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,246 psi | 83% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,943 psi | 87% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,724 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,782 psi | 84% | 1670 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,654 psi | 48% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,927 psi | 82% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,201 psi | 81% | 1594 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,937 psi | 71% | 1608 fps | 87.8% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 72% | 38,725 psi | 86% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 40,393 psi | 90% | 1677 fps | 97% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,885 psi | 86% | 1650 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,855 psi | 84% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 36,637 psi | 81% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,608 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,139 psi | 67% | 1532 fps | 94% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,508 psi | 86% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,740 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,016 psi | 89% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,218 psi | 85% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,159 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,028 psi | 82% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,710 psi | 84% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,291 psi | 87% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,696 psi | 86% | 1696 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,870 psi | 86% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,625 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,610 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,334 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,695 psi | 82% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,566 psi | 88% | 1427 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 4100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,747 psi | 66% | 1519 fps | 87.1% |
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,315 psi | 74% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,721 psi | 75% | 1572 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate No. 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 57% | 1417 fps | 90.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,937 psi | 71% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,182 psi | 65% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Accurate TCM*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 57% | 1417 fps | 91.7% |
| ADI AP 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 46% | 1253 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,401 psi | 70% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,893 psi | 69% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,096 psi | 69% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,360 psi | 76% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant 2400*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,817 psi | 57% | 1444 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,197 psi | 67% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 44% | 1266 fps | 89.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,473 psi | 70% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 49% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,385 psi | 68% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Power Pro 300-MP* | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,201 psi | 78% | 1650 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,110 psi | 67% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,168 psi | 67% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,386 psi | 70% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 47% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,809 psi | 77% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,285 psi | 72% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 58% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon LilGun*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,843 psi | 51% | 1450 fps | 85.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 5 gr | 60% | 10,820 psi | 24% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,924 psi | 75% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,721 psi | 75% | 1572 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D037.2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 58% | 1434 fps | 90.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,940 psi | 78% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,325 psi | 61% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,951 psi | 69% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,472 psi | 68% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,879 psi | 71% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,403 psi | 77% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Enforcer*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,422 psi | 48% | 1355 fps | 85.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 10,312 psi | 23% | 840 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,341 psi | 65% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,036 psi | 62% | 1453 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 30* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,398 psi | 63% | 1532 fps | 85.1% |
| Rottweil P 806² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 57% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Heavy Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 58% | 1434 fps | 90.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,721 psi | 75% | 1572 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,354 psi | 61% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,706 psi | 73% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,169 psi | 72% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,866 psi | 75% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,493 psi | 43% | 1299 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 54% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,879 psi | 71% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,302 psi | 79% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,084 psi | 76% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,530 psi | 68% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,022 psi | 65% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 45% | 1280 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 39% | 1253 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N110* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,467 psi | 52% | 1421 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,766 psi | 77% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 6.7 gr | 60% | 17,927 psi | 40% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,954 psi | 78% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,458 psi | 68% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 56% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,950 psi | 64% | 1289 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 11 powders for .357 Maximum loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,699 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,093 fps to 1,699 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 of the 11 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (310 MPa), the top charges use 48–90 %, 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .357 | 158gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Hodgdon LilGun, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. 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.