Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master 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 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% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1204 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,847 psi | 83% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1309 fps | 92.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,588 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,211 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,921 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,789 psi | 80% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 88% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,731 psi | 83% | 1309 fps | 90% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1240 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,921 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,397 psi | 79% | 1240 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,155 psi | 39% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,138 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,934 psi | 84% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,238 psi | 82% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,412 psi | 82% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,049 psi | 78% | 1220 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,980 psi | 36% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 1365 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,543 psi | 83% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1247 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1371 fps | 93.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,977 psi | 81% | 1227 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1309 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,874 psi | 75% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,412 psi | 82% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1207 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% | 18,652 psi | 56% | 1043 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 61% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,476 psi | 49% | 991 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 20,247 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 85.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 70% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 69% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 64% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 61% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 64% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 51% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 65% | 1132 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 59% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 11,966 psi | 36% | 896 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 21,930 psi | 66% | 1191 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 59% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,960 psi | 72% | 1178 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,737 psi | 50% | 1033 fps | 96.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 56% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 11,473 psi | 34% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,912 psi | 54% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 69% | 1171 fps | 92.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 75% | 1217 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,295 psi | 19% | 636 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 59% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,164 psi | 75% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 56% | 1063 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,838 psi | 47% | 971 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 49% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,767 psi | 53% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 60% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 67% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,018 psi | 69% | 1165 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 64% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,802 psi | 17% | 620 fps | 92.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 43% | 991 fps | 96.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,556 psi | 77% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,244 psi | 49% | 1122 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,592 psi | 47% | 968 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 59% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 57% | 1037 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 73% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,881 psi | 45% | 974 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 56% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,421 psi | 61% | 1184 fps | 86.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 56% | 1073 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 52% | 1027 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,237 psi | 79% | 1250 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 44% | 994 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 60% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,356 psi | 31% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 56% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 50% | 1020 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.6 gr | 64% | 14,025 psi | 42% | 974 fps | 86.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 79% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 48% | 994 fps | 99.1% |
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 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,371 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 863 fps to 1,371 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 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 36–90 %, 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, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master 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.