Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Geco FMJ FLAT NOSE bullet and 57 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% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1010 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 1060 fps | 92.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 869 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,630 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 92.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,936 psi | 90% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,948 psi | 81% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,470 psi | 82% | 1043 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,821 psi | 38% | 709 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,557 psi | 83% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 86% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,631 psi | 89% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,935 psi | 87% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,326 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,762 psi | 89% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,152 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,226 psi | 34% | 699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,919 psi | 81% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 886 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1056 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,907 psi | 90% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,818 psi | 83% | 1115 fps | 93.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,384 psi | 85% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,862 psi | 84% | 1060 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,672 psi | 80% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,902 psi | 72% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,601 psi | 83% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,847 psi | 83% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 87% | 1014 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% | 17,332 psi | 52% | 840 fps | 95.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 57% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,853 psi | 48% | 810 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,189 psi | 58% | 915 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 68% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 66% | 774 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,567 psi | 65% | 797 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 57% | 801 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 62% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 48% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 60% | 915 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,240 psi | 34% | 728 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,537 psi | 62% | 971 fps | 86.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 55% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 71% | 971 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,316 psi | 46% | 830 fps | 96.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 54% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,834 psi | 32% | 702 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,956 psi | 57% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 52% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 64% | 951 fps | 92.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,598 psi | 71% | 988 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,193 psi | 19% | 525 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 56% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 71% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 53% | 866 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 46% | 794 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 44% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 53% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 56% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,683 psi | 65% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 66% | 955 fps | 98.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,048 psi | 75% | 1004 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 62% | 892 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,685 psi | 17% | 512 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,866 psi | 42% | 817 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,511 psi | 73% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 6.6 gr | 72% | 12,966 psi | 39% | 876 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,852 psi | 45% | 787 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 57% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,144 psi | 54% | 843 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 72% | 827 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.3 gr | 64% | 13,996 psi | 42% | 791 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 54% | 853 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,450 psi | 58% | 978 fps | 88.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 53% | 869 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 51% | 840 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 24,714 psi | 74% | 1020 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,648 psi | 41% | 807 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 58% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,631 psi | 29% | 633 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,492 psi | 52% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 47% | 827 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 11,661 psi | 35% | 755 fps | 85.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,483 psi | 76% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,505 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 57 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Geco FMJ FLAT NOSE. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,165 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 699 fps to 1,165 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 26 of the 57 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, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 | Geco FMJ FLAT NOSE 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 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.