Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .355 | 140gr | ALSA PRO 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 ReloadSwiss RS 20, Vihtavuori N350 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% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 93.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,412 psi | 82% | 1138 fps | 90.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,093 psi | 81% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,977 psi | 81% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,124 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 90.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,253 psi | 82% | 1129 fps | 94.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,212 psi | 37% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 93.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 84% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,253 psi | 82% | 1115 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1132 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,557 psi | 83% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,182 psi | 34% | 758 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,269 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,919 psi | 81% | 1230 fps | 95.7% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 93.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,354 psi | 82% | 1079 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 951 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 1122 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 89% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 93.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,702 psi | 83% | 1115 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,383 psi | 82% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,354 psi | 82% | 1142 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,989 psi | 69% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 81% | 1093 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1158 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 1093 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% | 17,071 psi | 51% | 906 fps | 94% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,237 psi | 76% | 1106 fps | 91.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 58% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,997 psi | 45% | 863 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,697 psi | 62% | 1020 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 66% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 65% | 843 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 63% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 56% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 59% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,708 psi | 47% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 988 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 55% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,110 psi | 33% | 784 fps | 90.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,263 psi | 67% | 1083 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 53% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 69% | 1043 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 45% | 896 fps | 95% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,202 psi | 52% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,791 psi | 32% | 761 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 54% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,926 psi | 51% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 62% | 1014 fps | 90.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 68% | 1056 fps | 94% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,860 psi | 18% | 558 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 55% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 76% | 1102 fps | 91.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 70% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 52% | 932 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,460 psi | 43% | 846 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,605 psi | 44% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,795 psi | 50% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 54% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 63% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 63% | 1014 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 72% | 1073 fps | 94.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 60% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,395 psi | 16% | 541 fps | 91.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | 4 gr | 60% | 13,532 psi | 41% | 876 fps | 95.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 68% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,186 psi | 49% | 1030 fps | 87.5% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 76% | 1102 fps | 91.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 14,692 psi | 44% | 850 fps | 94.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 56% | 915 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 53% | 909 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 69% | 892 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,142 psi | 45% | 883 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,013 psi | 51% | 906 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,521 psi | 56% | 1033 fps | 85.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 52% | 932 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,563 psi | 50% | 906 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,765 psi | 44% | 902 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 55% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,355 psi | 28% | 682 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,360 psi | 46% | 889 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.5 gr | 64% | 12,894 psi | 39% | 853 fps | 85.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,613 psi | 74% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,069 psi | 45% | 873 fps | 98.6% |
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 | 140gr | ALSA PRO FMJ. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,237 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 758 fps to 1,237 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 34–90 %, 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. ReloadSwiss RS 20, Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan A0 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .355 | 140gr | ALSA PRO 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 No. 5, Accurate Solo 1000 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.