Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .356 | 150gr | Sierra FPJ FN bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 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% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1037 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1099 fps | 92.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,108 psi | 81% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 89% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,602 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,588 psi | 89% | 1138 fps | 91.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,892 psi | 90% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,528 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,138 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1073 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,272 psi | 43% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,122 psi | 81% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,440 psi | 79% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,572 psi | 83% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,703 psi | 86% | 1070 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,561 psi | 41% | 745 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,399 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,412 psi | 82% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 909 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1083 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,820 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 93.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,211 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1106 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,559 psi | 89% | 1102 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,150 psi | 75% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,528 psi | 83% | 1073 fps | 97.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,907 psi | 90% | 1043 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% | 19,072 psi | 57% | 883 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 63% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 51% | 840 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 20,001 psi | 60% | 945 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,859 psi | 72% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,640 psi | 68% | 797 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 66% | 820 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,350 psi | 64% | 843 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 65% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,303 psi | 52% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 65% | 958 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 61% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 13,227 psi | 40% | 781 fps | 93.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 22,191 psi | 67% | 1017 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 61% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 73% | 1001 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 52% | 879 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,145 psi | 57% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,227 psi | 37% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 60% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,927 psi | 54% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 69% | 991 fps | 92.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,309 psi | 76% | 1030 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,789 psi | 23% | 561 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 60% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,337 psi | 73% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 57% | 896 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 49% | 823 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 52% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 56% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 59% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 68% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 69% | 981 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 77% | 1033 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 67% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,368 psi | 22% | 551 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 45% | 850 fps | 97.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,962 psi | 78% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,692 psi | 44% | 922 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 47% | 814 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 59% | 873 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,913 psi | 57% | 869 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,410 psi | 73% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 13,996 psi | 42% | 794 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 879 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,492 psi | 55% | 965 fps | 85.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 59% | 915 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 54% | 869 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,875 psi | 78% | 1053 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 45% | 843 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 61% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,240 psi | 34% | 663 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 56% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,824 psi | 50% | 856 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4 gr | 60% | 13,416 psi | 40% | 804 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 79% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,795 psi | 50% | 846 fps | 99.5% |
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 57 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .356 | 150gr | Sierra FPJ FN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,201 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 738 fps to 1,201 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 41–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .356 | 150gr | Sierra FPJ FN 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.