Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Long Colt with .355 | 68gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullet and 16 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,153 psi | 85% | 1101 fps | 91.7% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,618 psi | 89% | 1142 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,473 psi | 88% | 1151 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant BE-86* | <<locked>> | 80% | 11,676 psi | 89% | 1194 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,298 psi | 87% | 1155 fps | 96.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,298 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 89.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 96% | 11,052 psi | 85% | 1177 fps | 91.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 11,168 psi | 86% | 1176 fps | 90.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 11,473 psi | 88% | 1265 fps | 91.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 10,878 psi | 83% | 1136 fps | 88.6% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 10,544 psi | 81% | 1118 fps | 91.6% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,704 psi | 82% | 1126 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 10,704 psi | 82% | 1246 fps | 94% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,414 psi | 87% | 1236 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 10,501 psi | 80% | 1158 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,718 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 99.3% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,790 psi | 75% | 1043 fps | 89.4% |
| ADI AS 30*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,833 psi | 68% | 1024 fps | 93.9% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,934 psi | 68% | 1038 fps | 87% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 10,486 psi | 80% | 1147 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,905 psi | 61% | 1001 fps | 91.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 9,964 psi | 76% | 1075 fps | 86.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 84% | 8,093 psi | 62% | 1037 fps | 85.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 8,456 psi | 65% | 1052 fps | 85.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 9,181 psi | 70% | 1157 fps | 87.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 9,631 psi | 74% | 1083 fps | 86.3% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,644 psi | 66% | 1032 fps | 87.9% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,964 psi | 76% | 1096 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 7,455 psi | 57% | 1078 fps | 86.9% |
| Rottweil P 801*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,340 psi | 64% | 1100 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,556 psi | 58% | 1010 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | 2.8 gr | 68% | 4,873 psi | 37% | 845 fps | 86.3% |
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 | 68gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,177 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,165 fps to 1,177 fps. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 82–85 %, leaving at least 15 % headroom. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 rank at the top here: for .38 Long Colt with the .355 | 68gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. 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.