Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .355 | 90gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullet and 36 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 and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,434 psi | 80% | 1181 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,434 psi | 80% | 1181 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,825 psi | 82% | 1191 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,825 psi | 82% | 1191 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,695 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,695 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,985 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,985 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 91.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,855 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,855 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,072 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,072 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,734 psi | 54% | 981 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,734 psi | 54% | 981 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,159 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,159 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,608 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,608 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,348 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,348 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,153 psi | 47% | 942 fps | 94.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,153 psi | 47% | 942 fps | 94.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,318 psi | 80% | 1224 fps | 92.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,318 psi | 80% | 1224 fps | 92.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,739 psi | 86% | 1214 fps | 92.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,739 psi | 86% | 1214 fps | 92.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,522 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,522 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,478 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 93.1% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,478 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 19,595 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 19,595 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,463 psi | 80% | 1194 fps | 91.2% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,463 psi | 80% | 1194 fps | 91.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,884 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 96.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,884 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 96.7% |
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 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,331 psi | 70% | 1122 fps | 95% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,331 psi | 70% | 1122 fps | 95% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,461 psi | 71% | 1125 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,461 psi | 71% | 1125 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,314 psi | 61% | 1073 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,314 psi | 61% | 1073 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 69% | 1135 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 69% | 1135 fps | 87.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,283 psi | 47% | 951 fps | 95.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,283 psi | 47% | 951 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 79% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 79% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 3.4 gr | 60% | 4,888 psi | 22% | 676 fps | 86% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 3.4 gr | 60% | 4,888 psi | 22% | 676 fps | 86% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 65% | 1083 fps | 94% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 65% | 1083 fps | 94% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 66% | 1119 fps | 98% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 66% | 1119 fps | 98% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 78% | 1158 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 78% | 1158 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 6,382 psi | 29% | 768 fps | 85.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 6,382 psi | 29% | 768 fps | 85.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 61% | 1093 fps | 87.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 61% | 1093 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 67% | 1089 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 67% | 1089 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 80% | 1178 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 80% | 1178 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 76% | 1161 fps | 91% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 76% | 1161 fps | 91% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 8,659 psi | 40% | 869 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 8,659 psi | 40% | 869 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,505 psi | 71% | 1135 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,505 psi | 71% | 1135 fps | 88.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 68% | 1109 fps | 93.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 68% | 1109 fps | 93.1% |
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 36 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .355 | 90gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense. Alliant UNIQUE delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,250 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 942 fps to 1,250 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 10 of the 36 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 47–90 %, 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .38 Special with the .355 | 90gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Accurate Solo 1250, 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.