Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 125gr | X-TREME X-DEF HP bullet and 53 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>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 1198 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,153 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,369 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 90.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,211 psi | 88% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,731 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,153 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 90.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,282 psi | 82% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,630 psi | 83% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,600 psi | 80% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,137 psi | 81% | 1230 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,953 psi | 45% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,703 psi | 86% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,224 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,069 psi | 42% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,456 psi | 82% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,861 psi | 81% | 1325 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,731 psi | 83% | 1188 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,369 psi | 85% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,325 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,847 psi | 80% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 1312 fps | 92.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,281 psi | 79% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,515 psi | 88% | 1276 fps | 97.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 58% | 1037 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 65% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 1004 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 21,582 psi | 65% | 1132 fps | 86.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,599 psi | 77% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 71% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 67% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 65% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,119 psi | 69% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 54% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 67% | 1125 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 63% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,779 psi | 41% | 922 fps | 93.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,279 psi | 70% | 1198 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,469 psi | 76% | 1188 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 1037 fps | 96.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 61% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,198 psi | 40% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 63% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,884 psi | 57% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 73% | 1178 fps | 92.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,876 psi | 24% | 659 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 65% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 77% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,697 psi | 62% | 1079 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 50% | 968 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 55% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 58% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 62% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,728 psi | 71% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,163 psi | 72% | 1165 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,772 psi | 71% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,774 psi | 23% | 663 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,954 psi | 48% | 1010 fps | 97.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,021 psi | 81% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,476 psi | 49% | 1102 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 51% | 981 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,277 psi | 64% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 61% | 1043 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 76% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,114 psi | 48% | 981 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 59% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,827 psi | 59% | 1145 fps | 85.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 62% | 1089 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 57% | 1040 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 48% | 1007 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 66% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 60% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,912 psi | 54% | 1020 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 945 fps | 86.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,492 psi | 52% | 997 fps | 99.4% |
* 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 53 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 125gr | X-TREME X-DEF HP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,325 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 876 fps to 1,325 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 42–90 %, 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. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Hodgdon HS-6 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.