Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Fiocchi SJSP bullet and 58 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 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>> | 72% | 27,615 psi | 83% | 988 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 86% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1047 fps | 92.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 840 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,847 psi | 80% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,137 psi | 81% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1079 fps | 91.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,413 psi | 85% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,471 psi | 85% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,834 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,440 psi | 79% | 1020 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 1056 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,707 psi | 44% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,950 psi | 90% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 88% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,689 psi | 89% | 1050 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,982 psi | 42% | 732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,254 psi | 88% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,863 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 961 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,267 psi | 82% | 965 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,499 psi | 82% | 860 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,021 psi | 84% | 1027 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,064 psi | 81% | 1089 fps | 93.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 1017 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,847 psi | 80% | 1040 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 83% | 1047 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1093 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,308 psi | 73% | 1063 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,976 psi | 78% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,992 psi | 81% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1056 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 86% | 997 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% | 19,667 psi | 59% | 869 fps | 97% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 64% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 52% | 823 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,276 psi | 58% | 906 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,613 psi | 74% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 69% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 67% | 801 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 66% | 823 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 66% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 54% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 67% | 942 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 63% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 13,634 psi | 41% | 768 fps | 94.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,595 psi | 62% | 958 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 63% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,990 psi | 75% | 981 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 54% | 866 fps | 98.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 59% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 38% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 62% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 55% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,772 psi | 71% | 978 fps | 94% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,223 psi | 79% | 1017 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,963 psi | 24% | 548 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 65% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 75% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,609 psi | 59% | 879 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 51% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,898 psi | 54% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,189 psi | 58% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,276 psi | 61% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 69% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 71% | 968 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 69% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,527 psi | 23% | 541 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 47% | 837 fps | 98.4% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 81% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 6.3 gr | 68% | 14,083 psi | 42% | 883 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,288 psi | 49% | 804 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,320 psi | 61% | 856 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 58% | 853 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,932 psi | 75% | 830 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,431 psi | 43% | 784 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 59% | 863 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,319 psi | 58% | 955 fps | 87.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 61% | 902 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,463 psi | 55% | 853 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,395 psi | 73% | 1001 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 46% | 830 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,643 psi | 80% | 1053 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 21,857 psi | 66% | 1017 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,647 psi | 35% | 646 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 58% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 52% | 843 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4 gr | 60% | 13,880 psi | 42% | 794 fps | 88.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,318 psi | 52% | 830 fps | 99.8% |
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 11 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Fiocchi SJSP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,152 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 722 fps to 1,152 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 of the 11 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. Rottweil P 806, Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 158gr | Fiocchi SJSP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol 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.