Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 115gr | Berry's HBRN-TP bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol and Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star.
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% | 26,498 psi | 79% | 1224 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1335 fps | 90% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 81% | 1332 fps | 87.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 86% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 1309 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,649 psi | 44% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,325 psi | 82% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,211 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,168 psi | 90% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,325 psi | 82% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1325 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,256 psi | 40% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 1407 fps | 94.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 1401 fps | 91.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,820 psi | 89% | 1312 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,541 psi | 77% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,571 psi | 80% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,515 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 1312 fps | 96.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1253 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% | 18,985 psi | 57% | 1076 fps | 94.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 62% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,926 psi | 51% | 1027 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,510 psi | 67% | 1201 fps | 85.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 72% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,772 psi | 71% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 67% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 62% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 66% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 53% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 65% | 1168 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 60% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 13,010 psi | 39% | 942 fps | 91.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 25,019 psi | 75% | 1289 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 60% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 72% | 1217 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 53% | 1076 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 12,401 psi | 37% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,465 psi | 61% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 56% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 68% | 1198 fps | 90.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,556 psi | 77% | 1257 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,542 psi | 23% | 676 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 61% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,106 psi | 75% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 58% | 1102 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 49% | 1007 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,100 psi | 51% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 57% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 61% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 67% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,322 psi | 70% | 1204 fps | 97.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,947 psi | 78% | 1260 fps | 94.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 66% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,440 psi | 22% | 679 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 45% | 1030 fps | 95.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 79% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,926 psi | 51% | 1168 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 48% | 1001 fps | 94.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,117 psi | 60% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 58% | 1073 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 72% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,071 psi | 51% | 1050 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,305 psi | 58% | 1079 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,118 psi | 63% | 1227 fps | 85.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 58% | 1112 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 54% | 1063 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 45% | 1020 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 62% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.3 gr | 60% | 11,487 psi | 34% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 58% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 52% | 1056 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,707 psi | 44% | 1014 fps | 85.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,542 psi | 80% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 51% | 1033 fps | 98.7% |
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 .356 | 115gr | Berry's HBRN-TP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,407 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 906 fps to 1,407 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 115gr | Berry's HBRN-TP 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.