Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock CN 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, Maxam CSB 2 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% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1161 fps | 98.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 91.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,527 psi | 80% | 1207 fps | 88.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 88% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,775 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 88.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,471 psi | 85% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1211 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,456 psi | 82% | 1217 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 94.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,183 psi | 37% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 91.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,124 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 99.3% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,093 psi | 81% | 1207 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,602 psi | 32% | 804 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1368 fps | 95.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 91.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,631 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,224 psi | 82% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,673 psi | 83% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1214 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 91.9% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1237 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,060 psi | 66% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 96.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1181 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% | 16,694 psi | 50% | 968 fps | 92.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,874 psi | 75% | 1181 fps | 89.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 55% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 928 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,857 psi | 66% | 1122 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 63% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,248 psi | 64% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 61% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 56% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 58% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 45% | 942 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 58% | 1056 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 53% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,892 psi | 33% | 837 fps | 88.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 24,323 psi | 73% | 1207 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,060 psi | 66% | 1112 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 44% | 955 fps | 93.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 51% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,138 psi | 30% | 804 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,535 psi | 53% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 49% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 61% | 1089 fps | 88.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 67% | 1132 fps | 92.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,555 psi | 17% | 587 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 54% | 1007 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 74% | 1181 fps | 89.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,872 psi | 69% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 50% | 991 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 43% | 909 fps | 98.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 14,301 psi | 43% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,694 psi | 50% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,958 psi | 63% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,450 psi | 61% | 1083 fps | 95.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 71% | 1152 fps | 93.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 58% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,395 psi | 16% | 587 fps | 90.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 13,155 psi | 39% | 932 fps | 94.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,018 psi | 69% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 1138 fps | 87.4% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 74% | 1181 fps | 89.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 14,388 psi | 43% | 909 fps | 92.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 54% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 52% | 971 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 70% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,578 psi | 50% | 988 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,694 psi | 50% | 971 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,218 psi | 61% | 1152 fps | 85.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,245 psi | 52% | 1007 fps | 94.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 49% | 968 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,489 psi | 43% | 965 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 54% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,036 psi | 27% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 49% | 997 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 45% | 948 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,417 psi | 43% | 961 fps | 85.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 71% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 44% | 932 fps | 97.5% |
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 | Rim Rock CN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,368 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 804 fps to 1,368 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 31 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 32–90 %, 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, Maxam CSB 2, SNPE Vectan A0 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock CN 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.