Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 148gr | CamPro HBWC bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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>> | 68% | 25,976 psi | 78% | 1099 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,166 psi | 81% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 1227 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,819 psi | 86% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,876 psi | 84% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 93.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,108 psi | 81% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,441 psi | 82% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,847 psi | 83% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1191 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,895 psi | 42% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,820 psi | 89% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,600 psi | 80% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,036 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,328 psi | 37% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,254 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 87.8% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,659 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,443 psi | 88% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 91.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1263 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,716 psi | 80% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,281 psi | 79% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,296 psi | 82% | 1109 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% | 19,624 psi | 59% | 994 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 64% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,188 psi | 55% | 1010 fps | 87.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,092 psi | 75% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 72% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 70% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 63% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 66% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,275 psi | 55% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,872 psi | 69% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 60% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 12,372 psi | 37% | 856 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,536 psi | 56% | 1047 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,262 psi | 61% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 79% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 52% | 978 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 61% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 64% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 56% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 74% | 1132 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,802 psi | 17% | 591 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 63% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 61% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 49% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 51% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 58% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 63% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,511 psi | 70% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,063 psi | 75% | 1119 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 69% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,047 psi | 15% | 568 fps | 93.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,693 psi | 47% | 958 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,308 psi | 73% | 1161 fps | 85.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 8.6 gr | 68% | 13,489 psi | 40% | 981 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 51% | 935 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 64% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 62% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,194 psi | 79% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 889 fps | 88.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,595 psi | 59% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 52% | 1037 fps | 87.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 61% | 1030 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 56% | 984 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 64% | 1086 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 47% | 961 fps | 92.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 23,917 psi | 72% | 1152 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 18,724 psi | 56% | 1096 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 67% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,283 psi | 31% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,015 psi | 60% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,535 psi | 53% | 968 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,561 psi | 41% | 906 fps | 90.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,172 psi | 51% | 948 fps | 100% |
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 55 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 148gr | CamPro HBWC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,283 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 814 fps to 1,283 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 of the 55 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 37–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N105 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, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 148gr | CamPro HBWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant POWER PISTOL, ReloadSwiss RS 24, 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.