Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 125gr | SNS Coated Bullets RN 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>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1204 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,238 psi | 82% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 90.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,499 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,383 psi | 82% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,660 psi | 89% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1312 fps | 90.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,557 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,559 psi | 89% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,095 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,692 psi | 44% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,471 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,804 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,818 psi | 83% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,718 psi | 86% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,673 psi | 83% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1243 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,300 psi | 40% | 853 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 1335 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1198 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1211 fps | 95.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1325 fps | 92.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 89% | 1237 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,628 psi | 77% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1234 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1178 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% | 18,623 psi | 56% | 1007 fps | 94.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 62% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 51% | 971 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,727 psi | 68% | 1138 fps | 86.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,772 psi | 74% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,322 psi | 70% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,060 psi | 66% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 64% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 66% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 52% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 64% | 1093 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 60% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 13,213 psi | 40% | 892 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,540 psi | 74% | 1211 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 72% | 1145 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 52% | 1004 fps | 96% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 58% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 12,430 psi | 37% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 61% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 56% | 1010 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 71% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,858 psi | 69% | 1135 fps | 91.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,063 psi | 75% | 1178 fps | 94.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,818 psi | 23% | 650 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 62% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 60% | 1050 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 50% | 951 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 52% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 57% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 61% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,408 psi | 67% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 69% | 1132 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 68% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,397 psi | 22% | 640 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 46% | 981 fps | 96.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,107 psi | 78% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,245 psi | 52% | 1115 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 49% | 951 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 60% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 57% | 1004 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 72% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,214 psi | 46% | 945 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,956 psi | 57% | 1010 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,653 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 58% | 1047 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 55% | 1007 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 45% | 965 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 62% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.1 gr | 60% | 11,748 psi | 35% | 778 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 57% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,158 psi | 51% | 991 fps | 96.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,765 psi | 44% | 961 fps | 86.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,614 psi | 80% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 51% | 974 fps | 99% |
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 12 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .356 | 125gr | SNS Coated Bullets RN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,335 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 853 fps to 1,335 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 of the 12 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 40–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 | 125gr | SNS Coated Bullets RN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.