Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .357 SIG with .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R bullet and 67 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant BULLSEYE, Vihtavuori 3N37 and Somchem MP200.
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: 4.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,898 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,695 psi | 83% | 1365 fps | 94.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,073 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,782 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,759 psi | 58% | 1194 fps | 87.3% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,987 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,405 psi | 85% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,450 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,493 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,087 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,914 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,900 psi | 90% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,449 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,658 psi | 60% | 1201 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 96% | 36,912 psi | 83% | 1411 fps | 92.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,856 psi | 88% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,072 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,943 psi | 88% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,711 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,630 psi | 62% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,479 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,262 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,884 psi | 86% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,985 psi | 86% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,522 psi | 87% | 1375 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 37,710 psi | 85% | 1365 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 64% | 39,755 psi | 90% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,878 psi | 25% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 92% | 38,682 psi | 87% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,651 psi | 83% | 1365 fps | 94.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 35,882 psi | 81% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 88% | 38,392 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 36,521 psi | 83% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,740 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,769 psi | 88% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,971 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 40,001 psi | 90% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,058 psi | 86% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 76% | 39,711 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 36,506 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 88% | 39,842 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,021 psi | 20% | 768 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 37,985 psi | 86% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 38,101 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,485 psi | 64% | 1345 fps | 94.4% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 36,651 psi | 83% | 1365 fps | 94.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 38,203 psi | 86% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,753 psi | 83% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 39,204 psi | 89% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 84% | 39,856 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 32,996 psi | 75% | 1286 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 37,898 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 36,506 psi | 83% | 1427 fps | 94.4% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,592 psi | 80% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,493 psi | 87% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221* | <<locked>> | 84% | 37,231 psi | 84% | 1381 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 39,668 psi | 90% | 1394 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 72% | 39,610 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 88% | 37,753 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,350 psi | 48% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,911 psi | 81% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 96% | 38,769 psi | 88% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 33,649 psi | 76% | 1316 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 36,506 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 35,839 psi | 81% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572² | <<locked>> | 68% | 37,492 psi | 85% | 1368 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 40,001 psi | 90% | 1322 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,795 psi | 36% | 945 fps | 91% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 53% | 1155 fps | 88% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,811 psi | 40% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,880 psi | 31% | 909 fps | 97.6% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,366 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 44% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 47% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 45% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 40% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 41% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 32% | 915 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 18,521 psi | 42% | 1037 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 37% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,863 psi | 25% | 846 fps | 87.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,034 psi | 59% | 1237 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 36% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 48% | 1089 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,373 psi | 30% | 922 fps | 91.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 36% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,978 psi | 20% | 774 fps | 98% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,766 psi | 38% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,150 psi | 59% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 48% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 29,588 psi | 67% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 43% | 1060 fps | 86.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 49% | 1119 fps | 91.5% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 60% | 34,418 psi | 78% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,409 psi | 10% | 551 fps | 91.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 37% | 978 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 53% | 1155 fps | 87.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 50% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,374 psi | 35% | 965 fps | 95.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,271 psi | 30% | 886 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,850 psi | 29% | 915 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 36% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 39% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 43% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 45% | 1073 fps | 95% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 50% | 1125 fps | 91.9% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,427 psi | 64% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 40% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 4,322 psi | 10% | 558 fps | 85.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,082 psi | 27% | 902 fps | 92% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 48% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 18,623 psi | 42% | 1161 fps | 87.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 53% | 1155 fps | 87.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,489 psi | 30% | 889 fps | 91.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,100 psi | 39% | 965 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 37% | 951 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 49% | 948 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,695 psi | 40% | 1017 fps | 86.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 35% | 948 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 21,292 psi | 48% | 1171 fps | 85.4% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 15,954 psi | 36% | 978 fps | 92.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,040 psi | 34% | 942 fps | 94.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 64% | 1257 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | 5.8 gr | 68% | 15,461 psi | 35% | 991 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,992 psi | 63% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,013 psi | 38% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,760 psi | 18% | 705 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 35% | 974 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 31% | 919 fps | 92.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,924 psi | 34% | 974 fps | 85.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 51% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 32,213 psi | 73% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,847 psi | 63% | 1234 fps | 94.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,227 psi | 30% | 902 fps | 96% |
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 67 powders for .357 SIG loaded with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,427 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 768 fps to 1,427 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 53 of the 67 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (305 MPa), the top charges use 20–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE 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. Alliant BULLSEYE, Vihtavuori 3N37, Somchem MP200 rank at the top here: for .357 SIG with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.