Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 124gr | Geco FMJ 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 Winchester AutoComp .
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% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 1178 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 92% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 1220 fps | 88.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,528 psi | 83% | 1214 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 1234 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,282 psi | 82% | 1270 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 1217 fps | 93.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 89% | 1260 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,009 psi | 36% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 91.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,079 psi | 81% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,701 psi | 80% | 1204 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,701 psi | 80% | 1207 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,950 psi | 33% | 820 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 96% | 25,962 psi | 78% | 1309 fps | 93.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 91.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1201 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1214 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 92% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,383 psi | 82% | 1207 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,383 psi | 82% | 1191 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,921 psi | 87% | 1263 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,568 psi | 68% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1217 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,166 psi | 81% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,543 psi | 83% | 1181 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% | 16,433 psi | 49% | 968 fps | 92.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,482 psi | 73% | 1181 fps | 89.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 55% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 44% | 928 fps | 98.4% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,191 psi | 67% | 1135 fps | 85.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 65% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 66% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 60% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,594 psi | 56% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 58% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,968 psi | 45% | 942 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 57% | 1056 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 54% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,776 psi | 32% | 840 fps | 88% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,700 psi | 74% | 1220 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 53% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 65% | 1112 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 14,533 psi | 44% | 955 fps | 93.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 50% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,501 psi | 31% | 820 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,927 psi | 54% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,172 psi | 51% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,117 psi | 60% | 1089 fps | 88.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 66% | 1132 fps | 92.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,816 psi | 17% | 604 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 53% | 1007 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 73% | 1181 fps | 89.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,553 psi | 68% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 52% | 1007 fps | 97.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,098 psi | 42% | 912 fps | 98.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 42% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 49% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 53% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 62% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 63% | 1099 fps | 96% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 70% | 1148 fps | 93.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,366 psi | 16% | 587 fps | 90.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 12,937 psi | 39% | 932 fps | 93.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 68% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,782 psi | 53% | 1148 fps | 87.5% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 73% | 1181 fps | 89.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,214 psi | 43% | 912 fps | 92.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 53% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 51% | 971 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 69% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,331 psi | 49% | 988 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 49% | 971 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,829 psi | 68% | 1214 fps | 87.5% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 51% | 1007 fps | 94.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 48% | 968 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,286 psi | 43% | 965 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 54% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,949 psi | 27% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 49% | 997 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 44% | 948 fps | 93.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,170 psi | 42% | 958 fps | 85.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,308 psi | 70% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 14,359 psi | 43% | 932 fps | 97.3% |
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 | 124gr | Geco FMJ. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,335 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 820 fps to 1,335 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 30 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 33–90 %, 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, Winchester AutoComp rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 124gr | Geco FMJ 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.