Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R 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 Alliant Herco.
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% | 28,819 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,269 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 93.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1253 fps | 90.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,745 psi | 80% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,820 psi | 89% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,572 psi | 83% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,702 psi | 83% | 1302 fps | 89.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,079 psi | 81% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1247 fps | 94.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,182 psi | 34% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,702 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 93.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,991 psi | 78% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,631 psi | 86% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 99.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,036 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,296 psi | 82% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,776 psi | 29% | 814 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,892 psi | 90% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,890 psi | 81% | 1348 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 93.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1204 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,471 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,412 psi | 82% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 1243 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1362 fps | 93% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,470 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,643 psi | 80% | 1250 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,133 psi | 66% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,963 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,325 psi | 82% | 1217 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,977 psi | 81% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 1214 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% | 16,578 psi | 50% | 994 fps | 93.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,063 psi | 75% | 1220 fps | 90.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 57% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,823 psi | 44% | 958 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,568 psi | 68% | 1168 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 64% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 64% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 60% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 55% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 58% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 44% | 958 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 58% | 1086 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 53% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 10,138 psi | 30% | 846 fps | 87.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,220 psi | 67% | 1194 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,434 psi | 52% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 66% | 1138 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 43% | 974 fps | 93.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,718 psi | 29% | 820 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 53% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 49% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 89.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 68% | 1168 fps | 93.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,482 psi | 13% | 574 fps | 92.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 52% | 1027 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 75% | 1217 fps | 90.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,003 psi | 69% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,230 psi | 49% | 1010 fps | 97.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,532 psi | 41% | 919 fps | 98.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 40% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 48% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 52% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 62% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 63% | 1129 fps | 96.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 72% | 1184 fps | 94.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 57% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,134 psi | 12% | 561 fps | 85.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 12,763 psi | 38% | 951 fps | 94.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 67% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,287 psi | 46% | 1106 fps | 85.4% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 75% | 1217 fps | 90.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 43% | 935 fps | 93.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,811 psi | 53% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 994 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 69% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,591 psi | 44% | 968 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 49% | 997 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,088 psi | 60% | 1178 fps | 86.2% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,592 psi | 50% | 1024 fps | 94.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 47% | 991 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,214 psi | 43% | 988 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 55% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,209 psi | 25% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 49% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 44% | 968 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.7 gr | 68% | 14,199 psi | 43% | 984 fps | 86.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 72% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,880 psi | 42% | 945 fps | 97.6% |
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 .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,362 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 814 fps to 1,362 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 29–90 %, 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, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 125gr | LEE Mold 356-125-2R 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 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.