Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | CamPro RNFP FCP bullet and 60 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, 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>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate No. 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,037 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 95.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,645 psi | 86% | 1073 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,398 psi | 82% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,384 psi | 85% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,863 psi | 87% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,224 psi | 85% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,646 psi | 89% | 1122 fps | 92.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,687 psi | 80% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,631 psi | 89% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 1060 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1056 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,705 psi | 38% | 705 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 88% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 99.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,674 psi | 86% | 1060 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,705 psi | 35% | 712 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 1175 fps | 97.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 90% | 994 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,921 psi | 87% | 994 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 883 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,022 psi | 87% | 1053 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 994 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 94.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,153 psi | 87% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1086 fps | 89.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,471 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,746 psi | 83% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,612 psi | 71% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,965 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,718 psi | 86% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 1024 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% | 18,043 psi | 54% | 853 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,889 psi | 78% | 1033 fps | 93.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 60% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,679 psi | 47% | 807 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,667 psi | 59% | 928 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,322 psi | 70% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 70% | 791 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 64% | 794 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 60% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,276 psi | 61% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,882 psi | 48% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 63% | 928 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 57% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 11,676 psi | 35% | 741 fps | 92.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 21,074 psi | 63% | 984 fps | 87% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 57% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 70% | 971 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 48% | 846 fps | 97% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 54% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,313 psi | 34% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 56% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 54% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 65% | 961 fps | 92.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 72% | 1001 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,150 psi | 18% | 525 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 58% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,889 psi | 78% | 1033 fps | 93.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 55% | 879 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 45% | 791 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,505 psi | 46% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 52% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,594 psi | 56% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 64% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 65% | 951 fps | 98.4% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 74% | 1004 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 61% | 889 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,656 psi | 17% | 512 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,706 psi | 41% | 814 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 73% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 13,271 psi | 40% | 886 fps | 85.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,889 psi | 78% | 1033 fps | 93.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,432 psi | 46% | 804 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,595 psi | 59% | 860 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 56% | 856 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 71% | 827 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.3 gr | 64% | 13,866 psi | 42% | 791 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 54% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,911 psi | 51% | 925 fps | 85.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 55% | 883 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,665 psi | 50% | 837 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,208 psi | 76% | 1033 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,518 psi | 41% | 807 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,174 psi | 57% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,558 psi | 29% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,318 psi | 52% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 47% | 823 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4 gr | 60% | 12,082 psi | 36% | 768 fps | 85.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 75% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,360 psi | 46% | 814 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 60 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | CamPro RNFP FCP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,175 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 705 fps to 1,175 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 24 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 35–90 %, 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. SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 158gr | CamPro RNFP FCP 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.