Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | ALSA PRO FMJ bullet and 60 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Vihtavuori N350.
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% | 28,819 psi | 86% | 1001 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 94.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,137 psi | 81% | 1040 fps | 91.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 856 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 90% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,456 psi | 82% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1089 fps | 91.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,269 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,861 psi | 81% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,211 psi | 88% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,006 psi | 81% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,456 psi | 82% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,818 psi | 83% | 1043 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,484 psi | 79% | 1024 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,459 psi | 37% | 699 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 94.7% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,543 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,920 psi | 84% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,298 psi | 88% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,473 psi | 34% | 702 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,542 psi | 80% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 87% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1152 fps | 97.2% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,457 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,153 psi | 87% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 876 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,774 psi | 80% | 1093 fps | 93.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1030 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,615 psi | 83% | 1060 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,891 psi | 84% | 1053 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,124 psi | 87% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,598 psi | 71% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,356 psi | 88% | 1070 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,615 psi | 83% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1007 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% | 17,013 psi | 51% | 827 fps | 95% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 76% | 1014 fps | 92.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 59% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 46% | 797 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,131 psi | 57% | 909 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 66% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,843 psi | 68% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 63% | 787 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 59% | 804 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 60% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 47% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 59% | 902 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 56% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,516 psi | 35% | 732 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,436 psi | 61% | 965 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,739 psi | 56% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,351 psi | 70% | 961 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,968 psi | 45% | 817 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 53% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,544 psi | 32% | 692 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 54% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,767 psi | 53% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 942 fps | 92.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,583 psi | 71% | 981 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,889 psi | 18% | 512 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 55% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 76% | 1017 fps | 92.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 70% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 52% | 853 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,881 psi | 45% | 781 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,200 psi | 46% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 52% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,333 psi | 55% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 63% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 63% | 932 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 72% | 984 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 61% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,424 psi | 16% | 499 fps | 93.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | 3.6 gr | 60% | 13,605 psi | 41% | 807 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 69% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 6.8 gr | 76% | 14,475 psi | 43% | 912 fps | 87.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 76% | 1017 fps | 92.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,562 psi | 44% | 778 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 56% | 840 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 54% | 833 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 70% | 817 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,851 psi | 42% | 784 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 53% | 840 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,507 psi | 55% | 951 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 52% | 860 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 49% | 827 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 23,960 psi | 72% | 1004 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,474 psi | 40% | 801 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 57% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,210 psi | 28% | 620 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 51% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,432 psi | 46% | 814 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.1 gr | 64% | 13,213 psi | 40% | 791 fps | 87.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,062 psi | 72% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,243 psi | 46% | 804 fps | 99.2% |
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 60 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | ALSA PRO FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,152 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 699 fps to 1,152 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 26 of the 60 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (230 MPa), the top charges use 34–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Vihtavuori N350 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 158gr | ALSA PRO FMJ they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate No. 5, Accurate Solo 1000 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.