Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 124gr | LOS FMJ RN bullet and 56 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 Maxam CSB 1.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,485 psi | 82% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,616 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 89.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,645 psi | 86% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1211 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1289 fps | 89.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1240 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 94% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,967 psi | 42% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,963 psi | 81% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,035 psi | 81% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,354 psi | 82% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,138 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 98.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,369 psi | 82% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,198 psi | 40% | 850 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,311 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1355 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,718 psi | 86% | 1184 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,312 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1227 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 91.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,831 psi | 74% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,499 psi | 82% | 1224 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 1194 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% | 18,666 psi | 56% | 1004 fps | 94% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,465 psi | 61% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 49% | 948 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,902 psi | 72% | 1155 fps | 86.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 72% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 70% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 63% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 61% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 63% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 51% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 64% | 1089 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 61% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4 gr | 60% | 12,662 psi | 38% | 873 fps | 91% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 23,467 psi | 70% | 1181 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,609 psi | 59% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 70% | 1129 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,549 psi | 50% | 984 fps | 95% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 55% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,328 psi | 37% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 59% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 55% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 65% | 1109 fps | 89.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,700 psi | 74% | 1165 fps | 93.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,600 psi | 23% | 640 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,889 psi | 75% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 57% | 1030 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 15,809 psi | 47% | 932 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 49% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 54% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 58% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 67% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 68% | 1115 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 76% | 1168 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 65% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,223 psi | 22% | 630 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 44% | 961 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 75% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,056 psi | 48% | 1083 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,650 psi | 47% | 928 fps | 93.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 58% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 55% | 988 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,047 psi | 72% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,375 psi | 49% | 971 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 55% | 991 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 22,176 psi | 66% | 1181 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 56% | 1030 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 988 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 43% | 948 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 59% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,994 psi | 33% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 55% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 49% | 971 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.9 gr | 64% | 14,315 psi | 43% | 942 fps | 85.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 78% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,273 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 56 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .355 | 124gr | LOS FMJ RN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,355 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 843 fps to 1,355 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 40–90 %, 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, Alliant Herco, Maxam CSB 1 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 124gr | LOS FMJ RN 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.