Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 124gr | Hornady FMJ FP bullet and 59 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori 3N37, 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% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1184 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 92.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1240 fps | 89.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,572 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,499 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 88.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,515 psi | 88% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 1234 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,892 psi | 87% | 1253 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,122 psi | 81% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,646 psi | 89% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 93.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,687 psi | 80% | 1220 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,241 psi | 37% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 85% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 92.5% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,645 psi | 86% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,340 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 98.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,153 psi | 33% | 830 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,775 psi | 83% | 1345 fps | 95% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 92.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,936 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,616 psi | 86% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,687 psi | 80% | 1293 fps | 90.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,253 psi | 82% | 1214 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,267 psi | 82% | 1194 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,760 psi | 80% | 1237 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,713 psi | 68% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 96.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,166 psi | 81% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1198 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% | 17,347 psi | 52% | 994 fps | 93.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,063 psi | 75% | 1201 fps | 90.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,421 psi | 58% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 938 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,742 psi | 68% | 1155 fps | 86.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 66% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 67% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 61% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 57% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 58% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 47% | 965 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 60% | 1083 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 55% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,921 psi | 33% | 850 fps | 88.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,338 psi | 76% | 1240 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,130 psi | 54% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 68% | 1135 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 46% | 981 fps | 94.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,675 psi | 32% | 830 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,927 psi | 54% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 52% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 62% | 1106 fps | 89.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 68% | 1148 fps | 93% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,714 psi | 17% | 600 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 54% | 1017 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,019 psi | 75% | 1201 fps | 90% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 71% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,332 psi | 52% | 1017 fps | 97.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 43% | 922 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 43% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,752 psi | 50% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,002 psi | 63% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 63% | 1106 fps | 96.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 72% | 1168 fps | 93.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 58% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,540 psi | 17% | 600 fps | 91.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 13,082 psi | 39% | 942 fps | 94.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 69% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,041 psi | 48% | 1109 fps | 85.6% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,019 psi | 75% | 1201 fps | 90% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 14,359 psi | 43% | 919 fps | 92.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 56% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,840 psi | 53% | 994 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 70% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,897 psi | 51% | 1007 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,390 psi | 52% | 997 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,494 psi | 61% | 1171 fps | 85.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 53% | 1030 fps | 94.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,157 psi | 48% | 978 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | 5.5 gr | 64% | 14,866 psi | 45% | 984 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 54% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,224 psi | 28% | 745 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 49% | 1007 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,881 psi | 45% | 955 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,808 psi | 44% | 981 fps | 86.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 73% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,446 psi | 43% | 938 fps | 97.6% |
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 | Hornady FMJ FP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,345 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 830 fps to 1,345 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 27 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. Vihtavuori 3N37, ReloadSwiss RS 20, SNPE Vectan A0 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 124gr | Hornady FMJ FP 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.