Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 115gr | Sellier & Bellot TFMJ bullet and 59 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 SNPE Vectan A0.
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% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 1309 fps | 90.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,150 psi | 78% | 1270 fps | 87.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 90% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,080 psi | 87% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1289 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 88.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1332 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,223 psi | 79% | 1266 fps | 92.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,763 psi | 35% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1309 fps | 90.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,311 psi | 82% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,224 psi | 82% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,559 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,485 psi | 82% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1319 fps | 99% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 1276 fps | 94.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,267 psi | 82% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,689 psi | 32% | 856 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1444 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1309 fps | 90.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,153 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 94.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,892 psi | 87% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,515 psi | 88% | 1401 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1319 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1329 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,292 psi | 67% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1306 fps | 95.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1283 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% | 16,534 psi | 50% | 1020 fps | 91.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 72% | 1237 fps | 88.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 56% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,895 psi | 45% | 988 fps | 98.1% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,902 psi | 72% | 1227 fps | 85.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 65% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 66% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 62% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 55% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 59% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 45% | 991 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 58% | 1115 fps | 97% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 53% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,849 psi | 33% | 886 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,441 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 53% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 65% | 1168 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 14,649 psi | 44% | 1010 fps | 92.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,100 psi | 51% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,211 psi | 31% | 856 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,434 psi | 52% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 51% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,928 psi | 60% | 1142 fps | 87.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,626 psi | 68% | 1201 fps | 91.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,642 psi | 17% | 630 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 53% | 1066 fps | 99.7% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 72% | 1237 fps | 88.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,626 psi | 68% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 49% | 1043 fps | 96.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,721 psi | 41% | 948 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,648 psi | 41% | 988 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 48% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 55% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 61% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 61% | 1145 fps | 95.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 69% | 1204 fps | 92.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,174 psi | 57% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,207 psi | 16% | 610 fps | 88.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 12,966 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 92.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 68% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,231 psi | 52% | 1188 fps | 85.7% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 72% | 1237 fps | 88.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 14,330 psi | 43% | 961 fps | 91.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 53% | 1037 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 1027 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 68% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,447 psi | 49% | 1040 fps | 85.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,607 psi | 50% | 1027 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,960 psi | 69% | 1276 fps | 86.6% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 51% | 1056 fps | 93.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 48% | 1024 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,070 psi | 48% | 1063 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 55% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,934 psi | 27% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,273 psi | 49% | 1053 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,750 psi | 44% | 997 fps | 93% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,041 psi | 48% | 1060 fps | 86.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 72% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 43% | 978 fps | 96.7% |
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 59 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Sellier & Bellot TFMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,444 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 856 fps to 1,444 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 33 of the 59 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. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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, SNPE Vectan A0 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 115gr | Sellier & Bellot TFMJ they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.