Load data for .38 Special + .357 | 85gr | H&N WC HS

Recommended Powder(s): Hodgdon Universal, Maxam CSB 2, SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2, Vihtavuori N330

Load Specifications

(Use the Personalized Load Calculator below to adjust )

Bullet:	.357 \| 85gr \| H&N WC HS
Bullet Weight:	85gr \| 5.5g
Bullet Diameter:	0.357" \| 9.07mm
Bullet Length:	0.430" \| 10.9mm
Caliber:	.38 Special load data
Case Length (l3):	1.145" \| 29.1mm
Cartridge Length (C.O.L.):	1.145" \| 29.1mm
Seated Depth:	0.430" \| 10.9mm
Shank Seated Depth:	0.191" \| 4.8mm
Case Capacity:	23.1 Grains of Water \| 1.50 cm³
Primer Size:	Small Pistol (SP)
Max. allowed Pressure:	21756 psi \| 1500 bar
LID:	LID_B7466_C585
Last updated:	2025-11-12

Load data for 68 loads in caliber .38 Special with .357 | 85gr | H&N WC HS bullet and 34 powders such as Hodgdon Universal, Maxam CSB 2, SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2, Vihtavuori N330. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.

Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge unless there are reasons. Since xxlreloading.com has no control over the equipment and components used by the customer and the data used in connection with the website, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected. Also see our Terms of Service.

Questions regarding the load data: Please read the information in the next tab "Explanations".
A load must fulfill certain criteria to be listed in the default view below - see "powder criteria to fulfill to be listed".

Our load data might deviate from other sources - see the "most common reasons for deviations".

All loads are based on the bullet and case dimensions shown under "Load Specifications" - see "reloading suggestions" if you deviate.

You can set your specifications in the "Personalized Load Calculator".

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Our default view only displays powders/loads that fulfill certain criteria: Max pressure of a load <=90% of Max. Standardized Pressure. Fill Rate (Min FR): >80% and <100% for rife loads, >60% and <100% for pistol loads. Min. Propellant Combustion (Min z): >90% for rifle loads , >80% for pistol/revolver loads. Relax these criteria at your own risk to potentially get more powders shown in the load tables.
Case Length (Inch)
Case Length (mm)
CaseCapacity (GoW)
Min z (%)
Min FR (%)
Max FR*
Barrel Length (Inch)
Barrel Length (cm)
Safety Buffer (%)
.

Click on the desired row in the tables below to add a specific load / powder to your Diary and manage there.

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AP 70N	<<locked>>	62%	19116	88%	**85	99%
ADI AS 30	<<locked>>	66%	18666	86%	**73	100%
ADI AS 50N	<<locked>>	64%	18681	86%	**22	100%
Accurate No. 2	<<locked>>	69%	19290	89%	**52	91%
Accurate Solo 1000	<<locked>>	65%	19116	88%	**02	100%
Accurate Solo 1250	<<locked>>	74%	19058	88%	**58	99%
Alliant BULLSEYE	<<locked>>	63%	18898	87%	**91	95%
Alliant UNIQUE	<<locked>>	76%	19305	89%	**14	94%
Baschieri & Pellagri 100	<<locked>>	68%	18623	86%	**12	100%
Hodgdon Universal 👍	<<locked>>	69%	19116	88%	**85	99%
Hodgdon CFE Pistol	<<locked>>	71%	18898	87%	**68	98%
Hodgdon TrailBoss	<<locked>>	97%	8833	41%	**4	98%
Lovex S020	<<locked>>	69%	18710	86%	**81	96%
Maxam CSB 1	<<locked>>	77%	19087	88%	**62	99%
Maxam CSB 2 👍	<<locked>>	77%	18608	86%	**91	100%
Maxam CSB 3	<<locked>>	71%	19174	88%	**48	100%
Maxam CSB 4	<<locked>>	68%	19508	90%	**39	100%
Maxam CSB 5	<<locked>>	62%	19029	87%	**83	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 12	<<locked>>	66%	18826	87%	**91	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 14	<<locked>>	95%	7237	33%	**8	92%
ReloadSwiss RS 20	<<locked>>	78%	18652	86%	**17	96%
[Rottweil P 806]*	<<locked>>	93%	18797	86%	**09	84%
SNPE Vectan A0	<<locked>>	76%	19450	89%	**62	94%
SNPE Vectan BA 9	<<locked>>	67%	18884	87%	**35	97%
[SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2]*	<<locked>>	83%	19014	87%	**71	85%
SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 👍	<<locked>>	70%	19363	89%	**71	99%
Somchem MP200	<<locked>>	68%	18623	86%	**71	92%
Somchem MS200	<<locked>>	71%	18768	86%	**62	95%
[Vihtavuori 3N37]*	<<locked>>	79%	18956	87%	**14	87%
Vihtavuori N320	<<locked>>	68%	18869	87%	**45	100%
Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star	<<locked>>	94%	19363	89%	**93	100%
Vihtavuori N330 👍	<<locked>>	72%	18811	86%	**01	100%
Vihtavuori N340	<<locked>>	74%	18782	86%	**78	94%
[Vihtavuori N350]*	<<locked>>	82%	18927	87%	**07	87%

Max Load - Barrel Length: 5.50''

Powder	Charge	FR	MaxP	%	V(0)	z
ADI AP 70N	<<locked>>	61%	18246	84%	**58	99%
ADI AS 30	<<locked>>	61%	16404	75%	**20	100%
ADI AS 50N	<<locked>>	60%	16578	76%	**60	100%
[Accurate No. 2]*	<<locked>>	62%	15243	70%	**30	87%
Accurate Solo 1000	<<locked>>	61%	16911	78%	**50	100%
Accurate Solo 1250	<<locked>>	60%	12589	58%	**61	94%
Alliant BULLSEYE	<<locked>>	62%	17840	82%	**58	94%
[Alliant UNIQUE]*	<<locked>>	62%	12430	57%	**88	87%
Baschieri & Pellagri 100	<<locked>>	60%	14649	67%	**04	99%
Hodgdon Universal	<<locked>>	62%	15389	71%	**73	97%
Hodgdon CFE Pistol	<<locked>>	61%	13822	64%	**17	95%
[Hodgdon TrailBoss]*	<<locked>>	62%	4047	19%	**5	86%
Lovex S020	<<locked>>	60%	13967	64%	**37	92%
Maxam CSB 1	<<locked>>	61%	11995	55%	**35	93%
Maxam CSB 2	<<locked>>	61%	11255	52%	**68	97%
Maxam CSB 3	<<locked>>	61%	14214	65%	**07	99%
Maxam CSB 4	<<locked>>	62%	16244	75%	**53	100%
Maxam CSB 5	<<locked>>	60%	17796	82%	**57	100%
ReloadSwiss RS 12	<<locked>>	61%	15563	72%	**02	100%
[ReloadSwiss RS 14]*	<<locked>>	71%	4380	20%	**1	81%
[ReloadSwiss RS 20]*	<<locked>>	61%	10834	50%	**38	86%
[Rottweil P 806]*	<<locked>>	89%	15969	73%	**27	81%
[SNPE Vectan A0]*	<<locked>>	62%	12763	59%	**48	87%
SNPE Vectan BA 9	<<locked>>	61%	15243	70%	**30	95%
[SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2]*	<<locked>>	75%	15171	70%	**53	80%
SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2	<<locked>>	61%	14649	67%	**40	96%
[Somchem MP200]*	<<locked>>	60%	14330	66%	**37	87%
Somchem MS200	<<locked>>	61%	13532	62%	**01	90%
[Vihtavuori 3N37]*	<<locked>>	70%	14156	65%	**57	80%
Vihtavuori N320	<<locked>>	62%	15635	72%	**63	100%
Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star	<<locked>>	61%	7905	36%	**5	100%
Vihtavuori N330	<<locked>>	61%	13010	60%	**24	96%
[Vihtavuori N340]*	<<locked>>	62%	12662	58%	**78	87%
[Vihtavuori N350]*	<<locked>>	72%	14185	65%	**60	81%

Start Load - Barrel Length: 5.50''

Any powder missing? Then click here.

FR ... fill rate of the cartridge in percent

MaxP ... max. pressure of load in psi or bar

% ... max. pressure of load in percent of the maximum allowed pressure for this caliber

V(0) ... muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s)

z ... powder burnt in percent

[...] *... 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.

👍 ... recommended powder/load for this caliber and bullet combination based on its ballistic performance.

<<locked>>... you need to buy an access license to unlock the data