Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 100gr | Speer JHP bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Maxam CSB 2.
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: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,818 psi | 83% | 1375 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 89.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,890 psi | 81% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,369 psi | 82% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,485 psi | 82% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,137 psi | 81% | 1407 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,369 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 1430 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1440 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,963 psi | 81% | 1407 fps | 91.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 1460 fps | 94.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,966 psi | 36% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1444 fps | 89.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,615 psi | 83% | 1394 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,572 psi | 83% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,687 psi | 80% | 1398 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,166 psi | 81% | 1407 fps | 93.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,820 psi | 32% | 948 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,469 psi | 79% | 1509 fps | 91.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1444 fps | 89.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1411 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1407 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1539 fps | 89.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,108 psi | 81% | 1401 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,050 psi | 81% | 1381 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,631 psi | 89% | 1476 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,626 psi | 68% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 1430 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1440 fps | 94.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1378 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 50% | 1135 fps | 90.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 74% | 1371 fps | 87.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 55% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,881 psi | 45% | 1089 fps | 97.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 65% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 64% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 61% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,275 psi | 55% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 59% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,026 psi | 45% | 1099 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 58% | 1237 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 54% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,762 psi | 32% | 968 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,118 psi | 66% | 1302 fps | 97% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 5 gr | 60% | 14,431 psi | 43% | 1106 fps | 90.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 51% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,312 psi | 31% | 945 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 53% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 49% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 60% | 1257 fps | 86.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 68% | 1322 fps | 90.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,569 psi | 17% | 689 fps | 93.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 53% | 1171 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 1375 fps | 87.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,858 psi | 69% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,476 psi | 49% | 1155 fps | 95.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 1050 fps | 96.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 14,214 psi | 43% | 1106 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 49% | 1112 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 53% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 62% | 1266 fps | 94.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 71% | 1342 fps | 91.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 56% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,337 psi | 16% | 682 fps | 87.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 13,097 psi | 39% | 1083 fps | 91.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,640 psi | 68% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,465 psi | 61% | 1381 fps | 87.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 1375 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,083 psi | 42% | 1056 fps | 90.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 54% | 1148 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 51% | 1135 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,902 psi | 69% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,565 psi | 56% | 1204 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,955 psi | 51% | 1145 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 23,047 psi | 69% | 1401 fps | 85.1% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 52% | 1175 fps | 92.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 47% | 1119 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,826 psi | 56% | 1243 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 55% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,094 psi | 27% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,476 psi | 49% | 1168 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 45% | 1106 fps | 91.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,854 psi | 54% | 1217 fps | 87.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 70% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 43% | 1079 fps | 95.7% |
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 57 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .355 | 100gr | Speer JHP. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,539 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 948 fps to 1,539 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 32–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Maxam CSB 2 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 100gr | Speer JHP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.