Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Geco HOLLOW POINT bullet and 61 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% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 1001 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 87% | 1073 fps | 94.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,370 psi | 88% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,731 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 92% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,820 psi | 89% | 856 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,529 psi | 86% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 85% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,253 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,964 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 1102 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,428 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,818 psi | 83% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 90% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1053 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,151 psi | 81% | 1037 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,357 psi | 37% | 696 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1073 fps | 94.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,876 psi | 81% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,789 psi | 83% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,008 psi | 87% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,921 psi | 87% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1030 fps | 99.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,776 psi | 86% | 1053 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,356 psi | 34% | 699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,095 psi | 90% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,804 psi | 83% | 1145 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1073 fps | 94.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,340 psi | 82% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,659 psi | 83% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,514 psi | 85% | 873 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1050 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,890 psi | 81% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,485 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 93.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,949 psi | 84% | 1027 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,166 psi | 84% | 1070 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,456 psi | 82% | 1050 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,168 psi | 90% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,308 psi | 70% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,340 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,892 psi | 87% | 1066 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,500 psi | 85% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,587 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% | 17,709 psi | 53% | 843 fps | 95.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,947 psi | 78% | 1027 fps | 93.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 58% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,287 psi | 46% | 797 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,855 psi | 57% | 909 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 66% | 915 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 68% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 62% | 784 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 58% | 801 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 59% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,635 psi | 47% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 62% | 919 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 56% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,414 psi | 34% | 732 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 20,218 psi | 61% | 961 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 56% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,090 psi | 69% | 961 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,606 psi | 47% | 833 fps | 96.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 52% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,023 psi | 33% | 705 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 56% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 50% | 833 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 53% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 63% | 942 fps | 92.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 70% | 978 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,874 psi | 18% | 512 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 57% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 78% | 1027 fps | 93% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 73% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 54% | 869 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 44% | 781 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 45% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 51% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 63% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,669 psi | 65% | 945 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,700 psi | 74% | 994 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 60% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,744 psi | 17% | 515 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,445 psi | 40% | 804 fps | 96.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 71% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 6.8 gr | 76% | 14,243 psi | 43% | 906 fps | 86.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 78% | 1027 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,142 psi | 45% | 791 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 55% | 837 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 53% | 830 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 70% | 814 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.2 gr | 64% | 13,677 psi | 41% | 781 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 53% | 840 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,072 psi | 57% | 965 fps | 87.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 54% | 873 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 49% | 827 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 24,511 psi | 73% | 1014 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 40% | 797 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 56% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,761 psi | 29% | 633 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 51% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,229 psi | 46% | 814 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 11,893 psi | 36% | 758 fps | 85.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,874 psi | 75% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 45% | 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 19 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Geco HOLLOW POINT. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,145 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 696 fps to 1,145 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 19 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 | Geco HOLLOW POINT they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI AP 100, Alliant Herco 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.