Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Long Colt with .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT bullet and 4 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,066 psi | 85% | 761 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,051 psi | 77% | 702 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,181 psi | 70% | 692 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 76% | 11,211 psi | 86% | 735 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,891 psi | 68% | 696 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 1.8 gr | 60% | 5,120 psi | 39% | 515 fps | 89.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 5,932 psi | 45% | 564 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,731 psi | 59% | 636 fps | 99.5% |
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 2 powders for .38 Long Colt loaded with the .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. Hodgdon TrailBoss delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 702 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 692 fps to 702 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 2 of the 2 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (90 MPa), the top charges use 70–77 %, leaving at least 23 % headroom. 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .38 Long Colt with the .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.