Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 100gr | Berry's Flat Base Round Nose bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Maxam CSB 2.
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% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1375 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 89.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,977 psi | 81% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,557 psi | 83% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 89% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1407 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1434 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 1430 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1437 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,006 psi | 81% | 1411 fps | 91.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,631 psi | 89% | 1460 fps | 94.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,980 psi | 36% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 89.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,659 psi | 83% | 1394 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,687 psi | 80% | 1398 fps | 97.4% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,253 psi | 82% | 1411 fps | 93.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,834 psi | 32% | 948 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1578 fps | 93.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 89.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1411 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1407 fps | 93.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1535 fps | 89.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1404 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,035 psi | 81% | 1381 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1476 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,669 psi | 68% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,660 psi | 89% | 1430 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1440 fps | 94.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1378 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% | 16,810 psi | 50% | 1135 fps | 90.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 74% | 1375 fps | 87.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 55% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 45% | 1093 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 65% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 64% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 61% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 55% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 59% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 45% | 1099 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 59% | 1240 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 54% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,791 psi | 32% | 971 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 66% | 1302 fps | 97% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 5 gr | 60% | 14,431 psi | 43% | 1106 fps | 90.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,143 psi | 51% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,298 psi | 31% | 945 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 53% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 49% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 60% | 1257 fps | 86.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 68% | 1322 fps | 90.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,555 psi | 17% | 689 fps | 93.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 53% | 1171 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 1371 fps | 87.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 69% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 50% | 1155 fps | 95.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 1053 fps | 96.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 14,243 psi | 43% | 1106 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 49% | 1112 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 53% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 62% | 1270 fps | 94.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 70% | 1329 fps | 91.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 56% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,366 psi | 16% | 682 fps | 87.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 12,676 psi | 38% | 1070 fps | 91% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 68% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,523 psi | 62% | 1381 fps | 87.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 1371 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,127 psi | 42% | 1056 fps | 90.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,927 psi | 54% | 1148 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 51% | 1135 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 69% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,637 psi | 56% | 1207 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 51% | 1145 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,788 psi | 77% | 1460 fps | 87.2% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 52% | 1175 fps | 92.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,766 psi | 47% | 1119 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,333 psi | 55% | 1230 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 55% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,108 psi | 27% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 49% | 1168 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 45% | 1106 fps | 91.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,912 psi | 54% | 1217 fps | 87.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 71% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 43% | 1079 fps | 95.8% |
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 57 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .356 | 100gr | Berry's Flat Base Round Nose. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,578 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 948 fps to 1,578 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 32–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Maxam CSB 2 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 100gr | Berry's Flat Base Round Nose they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.