Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 125gr | Hornady XTP bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 91.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,863 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,776 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 90.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,658 psi | 80% | 1220 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1270 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,981 psi | 39% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,238 psi | 82% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,282 psi | 82% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,850 psi | 36% | 853 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,267 psi | 82% | 1348 fps | 95.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,876 psi | 81% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 88% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,936 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1342 fps | 92.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1266 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1289 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,892 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,731 psi | 83% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,033 psi | 72% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,572 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 97% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,912 psi | 54% | 1020 fps | 94.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,320 psi | 61% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 49% | 984 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,741 psi | 65% | 1148 fps | 86.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 70% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 68% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,248 psi | 64% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 60% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 64% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 49% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 62% | 1109 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 58% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,879 psi | 36% | 889 fps | 90.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,265 psi | 73% | 1234 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 58% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 72% | 1175 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,041 psi | 48% | 1010 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,637 psi | 56% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,313 psi | 34% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,305 psi | 58% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 53% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 67% | 1158 fps | 91.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,700 psi | 74% | 1201 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,106 psi | 18% | 627 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 58% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 73% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 56% | 1056 fps | 98.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 45% | 948 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 48% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 57% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 66% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 67% | 1148 fps | 97.6% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,034 psi | 78% | 1217 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 64% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,889 psi | 18% | 623 fps | 92.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,214 psi | 43% | 984 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 74% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,911 psi | 48% | 1112 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 47% | 961 fps | 94.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 57% | 1030 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,076 psi | 72% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,475 psi | 43% | 955 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 54% | 1020 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,899 psi | 60% | 1168 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 57% | 1066 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 52% | 1017 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,991 psi | 78% | 1240 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,127 psi | 42% | 974 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,044 psi | 60% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,124 psi | 30% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 54% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 48% | 997 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,040 psi | 42% | 971 fps | 86.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,585 psi | 77% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,563 psi | 47% | 974 fps | 98.7% |
* 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 .357 | 125gr | Hornady XTP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,348 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 853 fps to 1,348 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 36–90 %, 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. 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.