Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Special with .357 | 86gr | Inceptor ARX Prefered Defense bullet and 26 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,130 psi | 83% | 1188 fps | 96% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,884 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,753 psi | 82% | 1201 fps | 89.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,232 psi | 88% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,434 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 89.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,768 psi | 86% | 1175 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,116 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,057 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,608 psi | 86% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,212 psi | 56% | 981 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,985 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 93% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,160 psi | 88% | 1211 fps | 96.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,492 psi | 80% | 1204 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,927 psi | 82% | 1171 fps | 98.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,464 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,240 psi | 52% | 961 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,144 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 92% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,479 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 90.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,840 psi | 87% | 1191 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,362 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,927 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 88.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,622 psi | 81% | 1175 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 18,710 psi | 86% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,376 psi | 84% | 1227 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,318 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 90.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,869 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 94.6% |
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 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,750 psi | 68% | 1093 fps | 93% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,316 psi | 70% | 1112 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,069 psi | 69% | 1115 fps | 86% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,825 psi | 82% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,881 psi | 68% | 1115 fps | 85.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,926 psi | 78% | 1125 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,530 psi | 48% | 951 fps | 94.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 76% | 1145 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,592 psi | 76% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.8 gr | 60% | 6,353 psi | 29% | 722 fps | 91.1% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,737 psi | 77% | 1165 fps | 90.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 64% | 1056 fps | 92% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 65% | 1109 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,157 psi | 74% | 1122 fps | 98% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 80% | 1148 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 6,411 psi | 29% | 728 fps | 85.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,199 psi | 65% | 1115 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 73% | 1112 fps | 86.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 79% | 1148 fps | 93.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,708 psi | 77% | 1145 fps | 94.5% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 78% | 1165 fps | 86.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 72% | 1115 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 9,326 psi | 43% | 876 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 74% | 1161 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 67% | 1096 fps | 85.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 67% | 1089 fps | 91.4% |
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 4 powders for .38 Special loaded with the .357 | 86gr | Inceptor ARX Prefered Defense. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,207 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 961 fps to 1,207 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 4 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (150 MPa), the top charges use 52–88 %, 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .38 Special with the .357 | 86gr | Inceptor ARX Prefered Defense they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.