Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .355 | 118gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullet and 24 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon TrailBoss and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,566 psi | 90% | 1027 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,709 psi | 81% | 1014 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,942 psi | 87% | 1056 fps | 96% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,682 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,537 psi | 90% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,637 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,417 psi | 66% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,664 psi | 72% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,811 psi | 86% | 1010 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,595 psi | 90% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,416 psi | 62% | 866 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,518 psi | 67% | 902 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,492 psi | 80% | 1033 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,102 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,695 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,682 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,479 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,826 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,971 psi | 87% | 1070 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,189 psi | 88% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,247 psi | 88% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,508 psi | 90% | 1073 fps | 89.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,420 psi | 85% | 1060 fps | 88.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,247 psi | 88% | 1030 fps | 99% |
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 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,535 psi | 81% | 984 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 60% | 889 fps | 89.5% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 64% | 922 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 82% | 1020 fps | 94.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,604 psi | 58% | 860 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,648 psi | 63% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.9 gr | 60% | 7,382 psi | 34% | 646 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.9 gr | 60% | 7,556 psi | 35% | 663 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 78% | 968 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 81% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3 gr | 60% | 6,904 psi | 32% | 633 fps | 93.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3 gr | 60% | 7,353 psi | 34% | 659 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 72% | 988 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,882 psi | 78% | 1027 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,969 psi | 78% | 971 fps | 93.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 83% | 1007 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,376 psi | 80% | 997 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,969 psi | 78% | 1001 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 78% | 1024 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,429 psi | 53% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,343 psi | 57% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,274 psi | 79% | 1020 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,447 psi | 76% | 1010 fps | 86.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 79% | 981 fps | 98% |
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 24 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .355 | 118gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,079 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 866 fps to 1,079 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 24 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 62–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .38 Special with the .355 | 118gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant Herco, Alliant Herco 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.