Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .358 | 125gr | Rim Rock TC Top Shelf 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, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 26,136 psi | 78% | 1184 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,921 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 91.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,892 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,369 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,253 psi | 82% | 1302 fps | 89.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,064 psi | 81% | 1237 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,384 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,080 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,546 psi | 38% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,892 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,775 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,498 psi | 79% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,703 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,977 psi | 81% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1270 fps | 99.6% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,269 psi | 34% | 850 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,630 psi | 83% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,253 psi | 82% | 1358 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1243 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,036 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 93.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1263 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1306 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1293 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,250 psi | 73% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,557 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 97.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1237 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% | 18,304 psi | 55% | 1040 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 60% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 48% | 988 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,669 psi | 65% | 1158 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 68% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 68% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 63% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 59% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 63% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 49% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 64% | 1129 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,014 psi | 57% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 11,356 psi | 34% | 883 fps | 90.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 21,451 psi | 64% | 1184 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 57% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,598 psi | 71% | 1175 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 47% | 1007 fps | 95.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,275 psi | 55% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 10,907 psi | 33% | 853 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 58% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 53% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 67% | 1168 fps | 91.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,700 psi | 74% | 1211 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,729 psi | 17% | 623 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 57% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,860 psi | 75% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 54% | 1056 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 46% | 965 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 46% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,332 psi | 52% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 59% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 66% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 68% | 1161 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,962 psi | 78% | 1227 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 62% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,163 psi | 15% | 604 fps | 90.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,837 psi | 41% | 981 fps | 96% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 72% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,374 psi | 46% | 1106 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,142 psi | 45% | 961 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 58% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 56% | 1030 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,960 psi | 72% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,896 psi | 48% | 1004 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 53% | 1020 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,754 psi | 59% | 1175 fps | 86.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 55% | 1066 fps | 96.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,955 psi | 51% | 1020 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,527 psi | 77% | 1243 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,605 psi | 41% | 971 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 59% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,718 psi | 29% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,564 psi | 53% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 47% | 994 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.6 gr | 64% | 13,547 psi | 41% | 968 fps | 86% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,933 psi | 78% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 47% | 984 fps | 98.8% |
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 57 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .358 | 125gr | Rim Rock TC Top Shelf. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,362 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 850 fps to 1,362 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 34–90 %, 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, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .358 | 125gr | Rim Rock TC Top Shelf 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.