Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Speer TMJ bullet and 59 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and Vihtavuori N350.
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% | 26,411 psi | 79% | 994 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 87% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,501 psi | 88% | 1096 fps | 93.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 90% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 902 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,486 psi | 88% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 90% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,573 psi | 89% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 87% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,124 psi | 87% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,644 psi | 83% | 1106 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,354 psi | 82% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,818 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,848 psi | 86% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,080 psi | 87% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 85% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 88% | 1083 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1083 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,445 psi | 40% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,978 psi | 84% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,717 psi | 83% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,572 psi | 83% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 84% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 90% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,095 psi | 87% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,733 psi | 89% | 1083 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,963 psi | 81% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,777 psi | 35% | 719 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,182 psi | 87% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 86% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,890 psi | 81% | 1148 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,921 psi | 87% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,863 psi | 90% | 902 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,963 psi | 84% | 1050 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,877 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,602 psi | 89% | 1152 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 90% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 89% | 1109 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,660 psi | 89% | 1096 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,703 psi | 86% | 1109 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,424 psi | 70% | 1076 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 86% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,352 psi | 73% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,585 psi | 80% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,863 psi | 87% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,760 psi | 83% | 1070 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,327 psi | 88% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,847 psi | 83% | 1010 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% | 18,753 psi | 56% | 879 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 60% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 50% | 833 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,449 psi | 55% | 915 fps | 85.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 72% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 70% | 797 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 64% | 804 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 60% | 823 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 64% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,563 psi | 50% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 65% | 951 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 60% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,212 psi | 37% | 764 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,058 psi | 57% | 955 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 58% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,076 psi | 72% | 991 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 50% | 869 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 56% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,385 psi | 34% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 60% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 54% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 68% | 991 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 76% | 1027 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,382 psi | 19% | 538 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 77% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 58% | 902 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 48% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,404 psi | 49% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 55% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 59% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 68% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 69% | 981 fps | 99.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,773 psi | 77% | 1030 fps | 97.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 64% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,845 psi | 18% | 525 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 43% | 837 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 76% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 7 gr | 72% | 13,938 psi | 42% | 909 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 46% | 810 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 58% | 866 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,579 psi | 56% | 860 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,772 psi | 74% | 846 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 13,140 psi | 39% | 781 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 56% | 873 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,043 psi | 54% | 958 fps | 87.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 57% | 906 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 52% | 860 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 22,756 psi | 68% | 1004 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,591 psi | 44% | 840 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 25,889 psi | 78% | 1070 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 20,987 psi | 63% | 1030 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 61% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,356 psi | 31% | 653 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 54% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 49% | 846 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 12,546 psi | 38% | 791 fps | 87.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 78% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 48% | 830 fps | 99.7% |
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 59 powders for .38 Super Auto loaded with the .357 | 158gr | Speer TMJ. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,152 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 719 fps to 1,152 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 25 of the 59 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, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Vihtavuori N350 rank at the top here: for .38 Super Auto with the .357 | 158gr | Speer TMJ they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 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.