Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .357 | 180gr | Nosler SILH 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% | 17,753 psi | 82% | 830 fps | 87.9% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,985 psi | 83% | 817 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,145 psi | 88% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,202 psi | 79% | 722 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,954 psi | 73% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,187 psi | 79% | 873 fps | 92.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,276 psi | 89% | 843 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,927 psi | 82% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,624 psi | 90% | 863 fps | 96.5% |
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>> | 64% | 16,114 psi | 74% | 797 fps | 86% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,693 psi | 72% | 771 fps | 98.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,302 psi | 70% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.6 gr | 60% | 8,050 psi | 37% | 538 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 2.7 gr | 60% | 7,760 psi | 36% | 541 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 69% | 823 fps | 89.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 80% | 810 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,387 psi | 62% | 646 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 79% | 817 fps | 94.6% |
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 SILH. ReloadSwiss RS 14 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 728 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 722 fps to 728 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 73–79 %, leaving at least 21 % 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 SILH 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.