Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .357 | 180gr | Hornady XTP bullet and 9 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,028 psi | 83% | 833 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,493 psi | 90% | 843 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,406 psi | 89% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,434 psi | 80% | 725 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,157 psi | 74% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,522 psi | 90% | 915 fps | 94.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,595 psi | 90% | 846 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,653 psi | 90% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,261 psi | 89% | 856 fps | 96.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 73% | 787 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,882 psi | 73% | 774 fps | 98.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 71% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.6 gr | 60% | 8,122 psi | 37% | 538 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 2.6 gr | 60% | 7,455 psi | 34% | 531 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 68% | 820 fps | 89.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 79% | 804 fps | 93.2% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,532 psi | 62% | 650 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 80% | 820 fps | 94.8% |
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 9 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .357 | 180gr | Hornady XTP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 915 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 725 fps to 915 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 2 of the 9 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 74–90 %, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .38 Special with the .357 | 180gr | Hornady XTP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Rottweil P 806 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, 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.