Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Short Colt with .355 | 95gr | Sierra Tournament Master bullet and 5 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.
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: 3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 84% | 10,660 psi | 82% | 764 fps | 87.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 11,110 psi | 85% | 817 fps | 86.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,994 psi | 84% | 814 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,806 psi | 90% | 801 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 11,487 psi | 88% | 787 fps | 98% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 3"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 10,066 psi | 77% | 748 fps | 86.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 10,486 psi | 80% | 794 fps | 85.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,587 psi | 73% | 768 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,211 psi | 78% | 751 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | 2.2 gr | 68% | 6,353 psi | 49% | 607 fps | 88.1% |
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.
This overview compares 5 powders for .38 Short Colt loaded with the .355 | 95gr | Sierra Tournament Master. Maxam CSB 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 817 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 764 fps to 817 fps. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star gives the best case fill at 96 %, and 2 of the 5 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (90 MPa), the top charges use 82–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38 Short Colt with the .355 | 95gr | Sierra Tournament Master they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Maxam CSB 2, ReloadSwiss RS 12 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Maxam CSB 2, ReloadSwiss RS 12 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.