Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC bullet and 63 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant BULLSEYE, Somchem MP200 and ReloadSwiss RS 12.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,559 psi | 89% | 991 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 91.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 995 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1011 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 852 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 843 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 933 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 995 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1023 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,232 psi | 58% | 911 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,124 psi | 87% | 1093 fps | 87.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,892 psi | 90% | 954 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1035 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUEᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1038 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,696 psi | 59% | 878 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,674 psi | 86% | 982 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 979 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1032 fps | 92.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1058 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,324 psi | 22% | 605 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 1011 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 91% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,035 psi | 81% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1026 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 969 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,672 psi | 80% | 999 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,936 psi | 90% | 983 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,585 psi | 80% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 917 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1026 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,847 psi | 83% | 1026 fps | 94.3% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 972 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1002 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 6,512 psi | 20% | 596 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,339 psi | 79% | 1028 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,006 psi | 81% | 960 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 91% |
| SNPE Vectan A0ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 986 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 938 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 883 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,801 psi | 71% | 958 fps | 91.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,340 psi | 82% | 983 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1133 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1029 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1009 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,354 psi | 82% | 1033 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,615 psi | 83% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,237 psi | 79% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,289 psi | 52% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1026 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 1009 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,527 psi | 77% | 1008 fps | 94% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 972 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1030 fps | 93.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 978 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% | 11,937 psi | 36% | 718 fps | 85.5% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,960 psi | 69% | 968 fps | 86.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,996 psi | 42% | 739 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,529 psi | 29% | 677 fps | 92.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,460 psi | 43% | 811 fps | 98.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 51% | 709 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,360 psi | 49% | 709 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,705 psi | 38% | 709 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,721 psi | 41% | 754 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,848 psi | 30% | 700 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | 2.5 gr | 60% | 14,069 psi | 42% | 796 fps | 92.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,459 psi | 37% | 705 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 9,326 psi | 28% | 696 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,179 psi | 78% | 1053 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,517 psi | 38% | 723 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 48% | 840 fps | 94% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,311 psi | 28% | 694 fps | 85.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,269 psi | 34% | 698 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,309 psi | 19% | 594 fps | 94.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,835 psi | 35% | 751 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 863 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 653 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 63% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,159 psi | 54% | 885 fps | 85.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 46% | 835 fps | 85.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 3,292 psi | 10% | 427 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 34% | 743 fps | 96.4% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,916 psi | 69% | 967 fps | 86.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 53% | 816 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,704 psi | 32% | 727 fps | 90.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,181 psi | 28% | 663 fps | 92.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,238 psi | 25% | 692 fps | 97.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,632 psi | 35% | 721 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,285 psi | 37% | 726 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,011 psi | 42% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,431 psi | 43% | 812 fps | 89.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 48% | 840 fps | 85.7% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 65% | 898 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | 2.5 gr | 60% | 11,240 psi | 34% | 768 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 80% | 4,090 psi | 12% | 491 fps | 85.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 9,747 psi | 29% | 714 fps | 88.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,098 psi | 42% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,916 psi | 69% | 967 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,863 psi | 30% | 666 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,923 psi | 39% | 715 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,343 psi | 37% | 702 fps | 92.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 53% | 748 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,969 psi | 51% | 850 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,153 psi | 33% | 718 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,728 psi | 71% | 1053 fps | 87.6% |
| Somchem MP200*² | 2.8 gr | 60% | 11,792 psi | 35% | 746 fps | 87.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,255 psi | 34% | 720 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,577 psi | 47% | 858 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 59% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,560 psi | 35% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,135 psi | 18% | 577 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,356 psi | 31% | 734 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,703 psi | 29% | 691 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,620 psi | 44% | 829 fps | 85.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 49% | 818 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 73% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 61% | 896 fps | 87.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,036 psi | 27% | 650 fps | 89% |
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 63 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,133 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 596 fps to 1,133 fps. Accurate Solo 1250 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 51 of the 63 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 20–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant Herco, Alliant POWER 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. Alliant BULLSEYE, Somchem MP200, ReloadSwiss RS 12 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Hodgdon HS-6 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate No. 5, Accurate Solo 1000 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.