Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | H&N HP HS 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 ReloadSwiss RS 20.
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% | 28,616 psi | 86% | 1017 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 94.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 86% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,660 psi | 89% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,180 psi | 81% | 1060 fps | 92.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,050 psi | 81% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 90% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,745 psi | 80% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 1112 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,805 psi | 86% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,355 psi | 85% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,109 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,211 psi | 88% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,803 psi | 80% | 1047 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 1086 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,110 psi | 33% | 692 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,050 psi | 81% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 94.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 90% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,934 psi | 84% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,037 psi | 87% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,224 psi | 82% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,123 psi | 84% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,427 psi | 82% | 1043 fps | 99.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 1047 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,819 psi | 29% | 689 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,704 psi | 89% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,268 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,832 psi | 80% | 1152 fps | 97.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 94.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,646 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,747 psi | 86% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,007 psi | 84% | 879 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,631 psi | 86% | 1056 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,776 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,514 psi | 82% | 1037 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,890 psi | 81% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,832 psi | 80% | 1070 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,861 psi | 81% | 1060 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,770 psi | 65% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,890 psi | 81% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,369 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,296 psi | 82% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 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% | 16,853 psi | 51% | 843 fps | 95.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,526 psi | 74% | 1024 fps | 92.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,855 psi | 57% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 43% | 797 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,347 psi | 55% | 912 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 64% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 67% | 787 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 61% | 791 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,521 psi | 56% | 807 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 56% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,417 psi | 43% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 59% | 919 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 57% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,080 psi | 30% | 719 fps | 90.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,653 psi | 59% | 968 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,492 psi | 52% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 66% | 961 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,243 psi | 43% | 827 fps | 95.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,549 psi | 50% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,892 psi | 30% | 696 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 52% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 51% | 745 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 61% | 948 fps | 92.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 68% | 988 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,728 psi | 14% | 499 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,419 psi | 52% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,482 psi | 73% | 1024 fps | 92.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 71% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,824 psi | 50% | 863 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,750 psi | 41% | 778 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,648 psi | 41% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,143 psi | 48% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,332 psi | 52% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 61% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 61% | 938 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 72% | 1004 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,333 psi | 55% | 876 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,090 psi | 12% | 476 fps | 88.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 12,401 psi | 37% | 797 fps | 96.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,191 psi | 67% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 7 gr | 76% | 12,763 psi | 38% | 889 fps | 85.2% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,482 psi | 73% | 1024 fps | 92.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 43% | 791 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 55% | 853 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 53% | 846 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 68% | 820 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,126 psi | 39% | 787 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 49% | 837 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,318 psi | 52% | 948 fps | 86.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 50% | 869 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,229 psi | 46% | 823 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 23,206 psi | 70% | 1014 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,676 psi | 38% | 801 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 53% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,905 psi | 24% | 614 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,723 psi | 50% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 45% | 823 fps | 96.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.3 gr | 64% | 12,531 psi | 38% | 794 fps | 86.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 71% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 41% | 794 fps | 98.8% |
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 60 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | H&N HP HS. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,155 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 689 fps to 1,155 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 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 29–90 %, 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, ReloadSwiss RS 20 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 158gr | H&N HP HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL 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.