Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC bullet and 25 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% | 18,275 psi | 84% | 878 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,275 psi | 84% | 878 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,217 psi | 84% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,681 psi | 86% | 918 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,535 psi | 81% | 897 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,535 psi | 81% | 897 fps | 96.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,029 psi | 87% | 878 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,691 psi | 58% | 729 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,043 psi | 88% | 888 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,348 psi | 89% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,595 psi | 90% | 881 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,588 psi | 49% | 705 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,588 psi | 49% | 705 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,492 psi | 80% | 911 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,492 psi | 80% | 911 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,855 psi | 87% | 890 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,477 psi | 80% | 886 fps | 88.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,550 psi | 85% | 896 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,782 psi | 82% | 916 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,566 psi | 90% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,043 psi | 88% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,680 psi | 81% | 885 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,420 psi | 85% | 927 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,420 psi | 85% | 927 fps | 91.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,334 psi | 89% | 909 fps | 99.8% |
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% | 15,780 psi | 73% | 831 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 73% | 831 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 74% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,936 psi | 50% | 737 fps | 88.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 71% | 850 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 71% | 850 fps | 94.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,428 psi | 48% | 710 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.2 gr | 60% | 5,047 psi | 23% | 508 fps | 94.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 69% | 814 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 70% | 839 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 82% | 852 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.2 gr | 60% | 4,366 psi | 20% | 483 fps | 86.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.2 gr | 60% | 4,366 psi | 20% | 483 fps | 86.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 64% | 833 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 64% | 833 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 70% | 817 fps | 94.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,621 psi | 72% | 845 fps | 86.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,013 psi | 78% | 865 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,766 psi | 72% | 873 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,153 psi | 47% | 672 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 76% | 867 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,403 psi | 71% | 839 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,359 psi | 66% | 839 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,359 psi | 66% | 839 fps | 86.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 70% | 827 fps | 98.3% |
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 25 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC. Vihtavuori N350 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 927 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 705 fps to 927 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 25 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, 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 .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Vihtavuori 3N37, Vihtavuori N350 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86 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.