Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .358 | 148gr | LEE Mold 358-148-WC bullet and 59 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% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1079 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,716 psi | 80% | 1135 fps | 92.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,658 psi | 80% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,050 psi | 81% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,166 psi | 81% | 1178 fps | 92% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,963 psi | 81% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,470 psi | 82% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,802 psi | 77% | 1112 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 764 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,847 psi | 80% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,368 psi | 79% | 1106 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,747 psi | 32% | 758 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,703 psi | 86% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,325 psi | 82% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1243 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,820 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,138 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 1194 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,772 psi | 71% | 1161 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 86% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,569 psi | 74% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,006 psi | 81% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1155 fps | 98.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,948 psi | 81% | 1076 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% | 18,101 psi | 54% | 932 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 60% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 48% | 889 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,811 psi | 53% | 971 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,553 psi | 68% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 69% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 66% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 58% | 876 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 63% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,230 psi | 49% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,147 psi | 63% | 1014 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 56% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 11,139 psi | 33% | 801 fps | 92.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,232 psi | 58% | 1030 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 55% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 72% | 1063 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,635 psi | 47% | 915 fps | 97.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 55% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,675 psi | 32% | 764 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 58% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,898 psi | 54% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 68% | 1060 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,990 psi | 75% | 1099 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,960 psi | 15% | 538 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 57% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,874 psi | 75% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 54% | 948 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,692 psi | 44% | 856 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 47% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,318 psi | 52% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 59% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 66% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 69% | 1050 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 79% | 1112 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 63% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,598 psi | 14% | 531 fps | 91% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,214 psi | 43% | 899 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 74% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 8 gr | 72% | 13,242 psi | 40% | 955 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,447 psi | 46% | 876 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 58% | 932 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,579 psi | 56% | 928 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 72% | 902 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,488 psi | 37% | 827 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 54% | 925 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,042 psi | 51% | 1007 fps | 86.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 55% | 965 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 50% | 912 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 22,118 psi | 66% | 1070 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,750 psi | 41% | 886 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 25,657 psi | 77% | 1142 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 20,682 psi | 62% | 1099 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 60% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,847 psi | 27% | 679 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 48% | 909 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 11,995 psi | 36% | 837 fps | 86.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,512 psi | 76% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,360 psi | 46% | 886 fps | 99.6% |
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 59 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .358 | 148gr | LEE Mold 358-148-WC. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,243 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 758 fps to 1,243 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 25 of the 59 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 32–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori 3N38 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 .358 | 148gr | LEE Mold 358-148-WC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 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.