Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 145gr | LOS RN bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, 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>> | 72% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1066 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 92.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,775 psi | 83% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,934 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1171 fps | 91.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,412 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,649 psi | 44% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,108 psi | 81% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,340 psi | 82% | 1093 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,880 psi | 42% | 781 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,296 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,168 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 932 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1178 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 1093 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1132 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,673 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,903 psi | 75% | 1145 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,716 psi | 80% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,282 psi | 82% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1079 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. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 59% | 935 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 54% | 892 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,189 psi | 58% | 968 fps | 85.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,614 psi | 77% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 70% | 843 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 67% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 66% | 886 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 69% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 54% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 68% | 1014 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 62% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 13,373 psi | 40% | 817 fps | 94.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,595 psi | 62% | 1024 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 64% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 74% | 1050 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,246 psi | 55% | 935 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 61% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 39% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 63% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 56% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 72% | 1053 fps | 93.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,006 psi | 24% | 591 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 63% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,324 psi | 79% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 62% | 961 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 50% | 863 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 57% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 63% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 69% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 71% | 1037 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 70% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,571 psi | 23% | 584 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 47% | 899 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 7 gr | 68% | 14,489 psi | 43% | 948 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 50% | 866 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 935 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 61% | 932 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 74% | 889 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 43% | 837 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 60% | 932 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,261 psi | 58% | 1017 fps | 87% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 61% | 965 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 56% | 922 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,221 psi | 73% | 1070 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 47% | 899 fps | 89.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,655 psi | 68% | 1106 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 66% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,908 psi | 36% | 702 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 59% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 53% | 909 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 850 fps | 87.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 52% | 892 fps | 99.8% |
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 54 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .356 | 145gr | LOS RN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,234 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 774 fps to 1,234 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 42–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N105 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. Rottweil P 806, Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 145gr | LOS RN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, SNPE Vectan SP 2 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.