Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 Maximum with .357 | 86gr | Inceptor ARX Prefered Defense bullet and 66 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and Vihtavuori N350.
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>> | 76% | 38,043 psi | 85% | 1985 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,521 psi | 81% | 2116 fps | 90.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,479 psi | 88% | 1877 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,581 psi | 88% | 1952 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,595 psi | 86% | 2103 fps | 98.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,275 psi | 83% | 1939 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,869 psi | 84% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,566 psi | 88% | 1775 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,725 psi | 86% | 1821 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,928 psi | 87% | 1886 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,362 psi | 83% | 1893 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,435 psi | 85% | 2139 fps | 89.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,202 psi | 83% | 2021 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,015 psi | 87% | 1893 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,190 psi | 89% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,364 psi | 90% | 2205 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,190 psi | 89% | 1873 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,305 psi | 85% | 2044 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,117 psi | 87% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,233 psi | 87% | 1870 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,103 psi | 89% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,477 psi | 81% | 1841 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,566 psi | 86% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,609 psi | 86% | 2077 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 37,695 psi | 84% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,187 psi | 38% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,927 psi | 84% | 1949 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,654 psi | 90% | 2149 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,521 psi | 81% | 2116 fps | 90.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,174 psi | 85% | 1896 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,798 psi | 89% | 1998 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,697 psi | 88% | 1946 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,437 psi | 90% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 40,321 psi | 90% | 1929 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,450 psi | 88% | 1886 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,610 psi | 88% | 1818 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 38,000 psi | 85% | 2028 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 38,653 psi | 86% | 2064 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,276 psi | 87% | 1919 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,795 psi | 35% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,840 psi | 84% | 2018 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,087 psi | 85% | 2142 fps | 93.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 39,755 psi | 88% | 1880 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,392 psi | 85% | 2159 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 40,654 psi | 90% | 2149 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,521 psi | 81% | 2116 fps | 90.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,277 psi | 90% | 2005 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,260 psi | 83% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,466 psi | 90% | 1965 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 37,521 psi | 83% | 1742 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,653 psi | 88% | 2064 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 39,291 psi | 87% | 1959 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,115 psi | 83% | 2146 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 38,290 psi | 85% | 2024 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,144 psi | 83% | 1975 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,871 psi | 89% | 2139 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,349 psi | 88% | 2090 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,553 psi | 90% | 2165 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,635 psi | 77% | 2129 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,595 psi | 88% | 1890 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 31,053 psi | 69% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,015 psi | 87% | 1962 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,565 psi | 84% | 1982 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,521 psi | 83% | 2054 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 40,408 psi | 90% | 1952 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 38,841 psi | 86% | 1955 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% | 23,337 psi | 52% | 1686 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 31,589 psi | 70% | 2014 fps | 87.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 54% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 47% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,448 psi | 39% | 1562 fps | 86.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,704 psi | 66% | 1801 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,136 psi | 58% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,947 psi | 55% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 55% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 58% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 49% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 31,212 psi | 69% | 1985 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,731 psi | 59% | 1808 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 53% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 35% | 1476 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 45% | 1699 fps | 87.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,424 psi | 52% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,008 psi | 67% | 1886 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 47% | 1663 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 52% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 34% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,425 psi | 57% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 46% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,443 psi | 65% | 1893 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,924 psi | 73% | 1965 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,282 psi | 18% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 56% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,012 psi | 78% | 2037 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 31,589 psi | 70% | 2014 fps | 87.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 30,530 psi | 68% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 54% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 44% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 47% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 50% | 1598 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 53% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,701 psi | 59% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,414 psi | 65% | 1867 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 33,823 psi | 75% | 1975 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,413 psi | 63% | 1736 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,905 psi | 18% | 1040 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 43% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,310 psi | 59% | 1873 fps | 86.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 31,749 psi | 71% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 13.7 gr | 60% | 14,924 psi | 33% | 1555 fps | 88.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 35,012 psi | 78% | 2037 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 31,589 psi | 70% | 2014 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 44% | 1575 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 54% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 52% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,282 psi | 63% | 1588 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 10 gr | 60% | 16,752 psi | 37% | 1509 fps | 91.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,047 psi | 51% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,060 psi | 49% | 1778 fps | 91.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 54% | 1739 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 49% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 59% | 1854 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 43% | 1631 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,453 psi | 52% | 1781 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,406 psi | 43% | 1729 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,585 psi | 57% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 30% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 54% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 47% | 1640 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 9.8 gr | 60% | 16,694 psi | 37% | 1542 fps | 93.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,430 psi | 72% | 1824 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 46% | 1588 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 | 86gr | Inceptor ARX Prefered Defense. Alliant POWER PISTOL delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,205 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,385 fps to 2,205 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 36 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 35–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant BLUE DOT, Alliant Herco 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. Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Vihtavuori N350 rank at the top here: for .357 Maximum with the .357 | 86gr | Inceptor ARX Prefered Defense they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 7, Alliant BLUE DOT, Lovex D037.1 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.