Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .357 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-XP bullet and 14 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon TrailBoss, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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% | 18,579 psi | 85% | 1053 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,145 psi | 88% | 1063 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,652 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,536 psi | 85% | 1083 fps | 94.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,304 psi | 84% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,605 psi | 63% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,840 psi | 82% | 1033 fps | 98.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,347 psi | 84% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,531 psi | 58% | 883 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,637 psi | 86% | 1106 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,796 psi | 82% | 1033 fps | 93.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,115 psi | 83% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,072 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 95% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,666 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 98.2% |
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% | 16,650 psi | 77% | 1007 fps | 98% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 80% | 1027 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,647 psi | 58% | 912 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,824 psi | 77% | 1040 fps | 92.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,806 psi | 54% | 876 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.7 gr | 60% | 6,672 psi | 31% | 650 fps | 95.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,056 psi | 74% | 988 fps | 97.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 76% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.8 gr | 60% | 6,469 psi | 30% | 646 fps | 90.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 68% | 1007 fps | 92.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 74% | 991 fps | 91.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 10,704 psi | 49% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,708 psi | 77% | 1024 fps | 92.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 76% | 1010 fps | 96.9% |
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 14 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .357 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-XP. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,106 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 883 fps to 1,106 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 3 of the 14 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 58–88 %, leaving at least 12 % 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .38 Special with the .357 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-XP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, SNPE Vectan A0 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, 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.