Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Ares RNBB 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, Vihtavuori N350 and SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2.
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% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 997 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,659 psi | 83% | 1050 fps | 92% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 856 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,239 psi | 85% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,195 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1102 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 90% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,312 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,892 psi | 90% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,542 psi | 80% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 1053 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,079 psi | 81% | 1037 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,299 psi | 37% | 696 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,774 psi | 80% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 88% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,673 psi | 83% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,834 psi | 86% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1030 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1053 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,385 psi | 34% | 699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,023 psi | 90% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1158 fps | 97.4% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,427 psi | 85% | 873 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,818 psi | 80% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,340 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 93.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1027 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1070 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,369 psi | 82% | 1050 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,235 psi | 70% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1079 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,384 psi | 85% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 1004 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% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 843 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,875 psi | 78% | 1027 fps | 93% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,421 psi | 58% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,229 psi | 46% | 797 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,811 psi | 56% | 906 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 69% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 68% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,697 psi | 62% | 784 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 58% | 801 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 62% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,592 psi | 47% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 61% | 919 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 55% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,400 psi | 34% | 732 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,958 psi | 63% | 978 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 55% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 69% | 958 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 47% | 833 fps | 96.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,463 psi | 52% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,008 psi | 33% | 705 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 56% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 53% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 65% | 955 fps | 92.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 69% | 978 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,845 psi | 18% | 509 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 56% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 77% | 1027 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 73% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 54% | 869 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 44% | 781 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 45% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,969 psi | 51% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,145 psi | 57% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 63% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 65% | 942 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,642 psi | 74% | 994 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 60% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,729 psi | 17% | 515 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,402 psi | 40% | 804 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 71% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 6.9 gr | 76% | 14,779 psi | 44% | 919 fps | 87.6% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 77% | 1027 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 45% | 791 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 58% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,463 psi | 55% | 846 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 69% | 814 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.2 gr | 64% | 13,663 psi | 41% | 781 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 53% | 840 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,737 psi | 50% | 919 fps | 85.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 54% | 873 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 49% | 827 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 24,381 psi | 73% | 1014 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,271 psi | 40% | 797 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,637 psi | 56% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,747 psi | 29% | 633 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 51% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,214 psi | 46% | 814 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 11,850 psi | 36% | 758 fps | 85.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 74% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,040 psi | 45% | 801 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 | Ares RNBB. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,158 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 696 fps to 1,158 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 25 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, Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 158gr | Ares RNBB 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 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.