Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .355 | 80gr | Barnes XPB bullet and 32 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol and 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 1000² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,334 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,942 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,508 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,435 psi | 89% | 1273 fps | 98% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,362 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,043 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 87.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,188 psi | 84% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,913 psi | 87% | 1289 fps | 88.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,667 psi | 90% | 1243 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 19,653 psi | 90% | 1273 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,246 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,290 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,298 psi | 52% | 991 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,565 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 95.9% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,624 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 92.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,072 psi | 83% | 1230 fps | 95% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,653 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,768 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 98.6% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,492 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,479 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,950 psi | 46% | 955 fps | 91.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,623 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 90.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,985 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 87.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,739 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,912 psi | 82% | 1214 fps | 92.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,029 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,304 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,666 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 18,608 psi | 86% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,927 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,464 psi | 89% | 1283 fps | 89.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,289 psi | 84% | 1243 fps | 93.7% |
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 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 80% | 1175 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,343 psi | 61% | 1089 fps | 89.7% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 80% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,880 psi | 64% | 1112 fps | 93.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,520 psi | 76% | 1168 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,679 psi | 77% | 1211 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 74% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,752 psi | 77% | 1224 fps | 86.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,389 psi | 71% | 1132 fps | 96.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 9,689 psi | 45% | 958 fps | 92% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,969 psi | 73% | 1171 fps | 97.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 73% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,555 psi | 26% | 709 fps | 86.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 75% | 1194 fps | 94.1% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,069 psi | 69% | 1158 fps | 87.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,966 psi | 60% | 1070 fps | 89.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,502 psi | 57% | 1099 fps | 94.3% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,243 psi | 70% | 1142 fps | 96.4% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,563 psi | 76% | 1175 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 78% | 1234 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 80% | 7,368 psi | 34% | 827 fps | 86.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,055 psi | 69% | 1188 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,418 psi | 75% | 1175 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 76% | 1171 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 73% | 1148 fps | 90.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 70% | 1145 fps | 91.7% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 67% | 1132 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 74% | 1181 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 8,456 psi | 39% | 886 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,808 psi | 68% | 1175 fps | 93.3% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,216 psi | 79% | 1220 fps | 87.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 61% | 1086 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.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 32 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .355 | 80gr | Barnes XPB. Maxam CSB 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,316 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 955 fps to 1,316 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 32 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 46–90 %, leaving at least 10 % 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. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38 Special with the .355 | 80gr | Barnes XPB they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, Lovex S020 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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.