Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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>> | 72% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 99% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 90% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 90.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,427 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,804 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1263 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1339 fps | 90.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1266 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,557 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,124 psi | 90% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,499 psi | 82% | 1266 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1309 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,302 psi | 46% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,254 psi | 88% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,124 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,880 psi | 42% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1407 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,006 psi | 81% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,384 psi | 85% | 1348 fps | 92.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,397 psi | 79% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,616 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1237 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1312 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1234 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. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 59% | 1070 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 64% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 53% | 1020 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 21,350 psi | 64% | 1152 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 78% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,612 psi | 71% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,018 psi | 69% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 65% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 68% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 55% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 68% | 1158 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 63% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 13,547 psi | 41% | 935 fps | 92.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,119 psi | 69% | 1224 fps | 86% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 63% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,672 psi | 77% | 1220 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 55% | 1070 fps | 96.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,001 psi | 60% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 13,024 psi | 39% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 63% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 56% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,062 psi | 72% | 1201 fps | 92.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 79% | 1243 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,934 psi | 24% | 676 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 66% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,005 psi | 78% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 61% | 1096 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,158 psi | 51% | 1001 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 54% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 59% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 63% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,453 psi | 70% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 72% | 1191 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 72% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,527 psi | 23% | 669 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,172 psi | 48% | 1040 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,369 psi | 82% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,563 psi | 50% | 1132 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,679 psi | 50% | 997 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 62% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 60% | 1060 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 74% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,157 psi | 48% | 1007 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 60% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,725 psi | 59% | 1168 fps | 85.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 61% | 1102 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 56% | 1056 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 48% | 1030 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 65% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,096 psi | 36% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 60% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,130 psi | 54% | 1050 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 13,982 psi | 42% | 971 fps | 86% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 53% | 1027 fps | 99.4% |
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 54 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,407 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 899 fps to 1,407 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 42–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 N350, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Hodgdon HS-6 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.