Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 124gr | Limit FMJ bullet and 58 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Alliant Herco.
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% | 29,153 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,224 psi | 82% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 89.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 88% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 89.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 86% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,660 psi | 89% | 1237 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,630 psi | 83% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,036 psi | 84% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 94% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,866 psi | 42% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,485 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 92.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,775 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,097 psi | 39% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,036 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,934 psi | 84% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 92.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,499 psi | 82% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,656 psi | 74% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 97.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,616 psi | 86% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,456 psi | 82% | 1168 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% | 18,521 psi | 56% | 1001 fps | 93.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 61% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,882 psi | 51% | 965 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,641 psi | 71% | 1152 fps | 86.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 71% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,047 psi | 69% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,857 psi | 66% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 61% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 65% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,332 psi | 52% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 1089 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,856 psi | 60% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 13,039 psi | 39% | 886 fps | 91.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,004 psi | 72% | 1194 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 58% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 72% | 1142 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 1001 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 57% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,270 psi | 37% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 59% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 55% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,350 psi | 67% | 1119 fps | 90.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 74% | 1165 fps | 93.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,585 psi | 23% | 636 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 59% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 80% | 1214 fps | 90.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,685 psi | 74% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 57% | 1030 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 47% | 928 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,331 psi | 49% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 54% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 66% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 67% | 1115 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 77% | 1181 fps | 94.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 65% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,223 psi | 22% | 627 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 14,576 psi | 44% | 958 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,976 psi | 75% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,331 psi | 49% | 1093 fps | 85.6% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 80% | 1214 fps | 90.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,563 psi | 47% | 928 fps | 93.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 57% | 1001 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,873 psi | 72% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,737 psi | 50% | 981 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 56% | 1004 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 22,771 psi | 68% | 1194 fps | 87.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 58% | 1043 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 53% | 988 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 45% | 961 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 61% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,965 psi | 33% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 56% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 984 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.9 gr | 64% | 14,243 psi | 43% | 942 fps | 85.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,715 psi | 77% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 49% | 955 fps | 98.5% |
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 58 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .355 | 124gr | Limit FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,352 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 843 fps to 1,352 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 of the 58 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 39–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 124gr | Limit FMJ 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.