Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold TL358-158-2R bullet and 61 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, Vihtavuori 3N37 and Alliant UNIQUE.
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. 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1010 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,977 psi | 81% | 1037 fps | 93.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,630 psi | 83% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,743 psi | 74% | 1001 fps | 89.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,702 psi | 83% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 830 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 915 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,107 psi | 78% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 91.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,441 psi | 82% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 1043 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,747 psi | 32% | 676 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 1037 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 85% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1040 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1060 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,905 psi | 27% | 653 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,718 psi | 89% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,063 psi | 78% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,528 psi | 83% | 1142 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 1037 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,427 psi | 85% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 883 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,861 psi | 81% | 1096 fps | 92.8% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1033 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1060 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1043 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,440 psi | 79% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,929 psi | 63% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 997 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% | 15,969 psi | 48% | 807 fps | 93.8% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 68% | 974 fps | 90.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,463 psi | 52% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 40% | 758 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 20,885 psi | 63% | 942 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 58% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 61% | 748 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 60% | 774 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 51% | 768 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 55% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,590 psi | 41% | 771 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 56% | 883 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 48% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,369 psi | 28% | 682 fps | 88.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 20,421 psi | 61% | 965 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,795 psi | 47% | 764 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 64% | 932 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 3.3 gr | 60% | 13,300 psi | 40% | 791 fps | 94.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 46% | 771 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,021 psi | 27% | 666 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,099 psi | 48% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,692 psi | 44% | 797 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 47% | 709 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 56% | 899 fps | 89.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 63% | 938 fps | 93.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,250 psi | 13% | 469 fps | 93.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 49% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,713 psi | 68% | 971 fps | 90.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,350 psi | 64% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,982 psi | 45% | 814 fps | 97.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,705 psi | 38% | 741 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,372 psi | 37% | 771 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,895 psi | 45% | 778 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 51% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 59% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 57% | 899 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 67% | 958 fps | 94.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,013 psi | 51% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 3,669 psi | 11% | 446 fps | 85.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,618 psi | 35% | 761 fps | 94.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 63% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 13,431 psi | 40% | 892 fps | 85.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,713 psi | 68% | 971 fps | 90.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,445 psi | 40% | 755 fps | 93.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,737 psi | 50% | 807 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 48% | 801 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 64% | 787 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,432 psi | 46% | 820 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 47% | 804 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,898 psi | 54% | 945 fps | 85.9% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,316 psi | 46% | 820 fps | 94.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,330 psi | 43% | 787 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,801 psi | 74% | 1017 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | 4.2 gr | 64% | 12,836 psi | 38% | 791 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,215 psi | 49% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,353 psi | 22% | 591 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,692 psi | 44% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 40% | 774 fps | 94.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.1 gr | 68% | 12,720 psi | 38% | 784 fps | 86.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 66% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 39% | 764 fps | 97.9% |
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 24 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold TL358-158-2R. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,142 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 653 fps to 1,142 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 of the 24 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 27–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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, Vihtavuori 3N37, Alliant UNIQUE rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold TL358-158-2R they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, SNPE Vectan SP 2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Alliant Herco 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.