Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP bullet and 54 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% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 91.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,659 psi | 83% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,921 psi | 90% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1332 fps | 90.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,776 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 1263 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,921 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,735 psi | 41% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,108 psi | 81% | 1247 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,531 psi | 38% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,745 psi | 80% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,254 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 1207 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,616 psi | 86% | 1266 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 1339 fps | 92.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,630 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,659 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,515 psi | 88% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,440 psi | 76% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,992 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,064 psi | 81% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1230 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% | 19,247 psi | 58% | 1063 fps | 96% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,465 psi | 61% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,158 psi | 51% | 1010 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 21,002 psi | 63% | 1148 fps | 86.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 72% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 72% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,292 psi | 67% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 61% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 67% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,463 psi | 52% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,307 psi | 67% | 1152 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 61% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 12,372 psi | 37% | 915 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 22,814 psi | 68% | 1220 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 59% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,338 psi | 76% | 1211 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,694 psi | 50% | 1040 fps | 96.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 58% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,966 psi | 36% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 62% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 56% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 71% | 1198 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 78% | 1240 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,483 psi | 19% | 650 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 61% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 78% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 58% | 1083 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 47% | 978 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 51% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,521 psi | 56% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,001 psi | 60% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,308 psi | 70% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 72% | 1194 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 66% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,947 psi | 18% | 633 fps | 93.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 1010 fps | 97.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,266 psi | 79% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.2 gr | 72% | 15,069 psi | 45% | 1093 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 48% | 988 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 61% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 58% | 1053 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 75% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,200 psi | 46% | 988 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 56% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,333 psi | 55% | 1138 fps | 85.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 58% | 1089 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 1043 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,997 psi | 45% | 1010 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 63% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,501 psi | 31% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 59% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 52% | 1037 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 12,981 psi | 39% | 951 fps | 85.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 50% | 1010 fps | 99.4% |
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 54 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,394 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 879 fps to 1,394 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 38–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP 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.