Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .357 | 180gr | Nosler Partition HP 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>> | 72% | 18,159 psi | 83% | 823 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,970 psi | 83% | 804 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,651 psi | 81% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,041 psi | 74% | 692 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,823 psi | 68% | 699 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,303 psi | 80% | 866 fps | 91.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,825 psi | 82% | 801 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,130 psi | 83% | 712 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,811 psi | 82% | 817 fps | 94.5% |
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>> | 68% | 16,317 psi | 75% | 784 fps | 85.2% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,852 psi | 68% | 741 fps | 97.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,301 psi | 66% | 699 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.3 gr | 60% | 7,527 psi | 35% | 515 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 2.3 gr | 60% | 6,904 psi | 32% | 505 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,995 psi | 60% | 771 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,983 psi | 73% | 764 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,459 psi | 57% | 620 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,838 psi | 73% | 778 fps | 92.7% |
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 2 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .357 | 180gr | Nosler Partition HP. ReloadSwiss RS 14 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 699 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 692 fps to 699 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 2 of the 2 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 68–74 %, leaving at least 26 % 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 | Nosler Partition HP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.