Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38 Super Auto with .357 | 158gr | Zero JHP bullet and 60 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,863 psi | 87% | 978 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,530 psi | 89% | 1047 fps | 94% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 87% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,124 psi | 90% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1030 fps | 91.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 86% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,238 psi | 82% | 807 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,905 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,805 psi | 89% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 86% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,282 psi | 85% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,892 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,210 psi | 85% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,747 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,225 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,153 psi | 90% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,515 psi | 88% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,209 psi | 82% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,094 psi | 84% | 1017 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,688 psi | 83% | 1014 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 692 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,921 psi | 90% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 93.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,818 psi | 80% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,485 psi | 85% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,587 psi | 86% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,110 psi | 90% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,833 psi | 83% | 1004 fps | 99.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,181 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 88% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,140 psi | 39% | 699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,675 psi | 89% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,195 psi | 82% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,398 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 96.7% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,472 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 93.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,079 psi | 84% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,385 psi | 88% | 955 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,297 psi | 85% | 955 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 88% | 860 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 90% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,456 psi | 85% | 1089 fps | 93.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,196 psi | 88% | 1014 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,240 psi | 88% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 86% | 1043 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,108 psi | 84% | 1030 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,586 psi | 83% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,294 psi | 73% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,050 psi | 84% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,254 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,775 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,950 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,970 psi | 54% | 820 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,295 psi | 79% | 1004 fps | 92.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 61% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,476 psi | 49% | 791 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,770 psi | 65% | 928 fps | 87% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,859 psi | 72% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 68% | 758 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 64% | 768 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 61% | 787 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 63% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 52% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 62% | 892 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 59% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,444 psi | 37% | 722 fps | 92.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 21,422 psi | 64% | 951 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 58% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 70% | 938 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 49% | 817 fps | 96.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 56% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,821 psi | 35% | 692 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 59% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,043 psi | 54% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 67% | 932 fps | 92.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,699 psi | 71% | 955 fps | 94.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,498 psi | 22% | 522 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 59% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 79% | 1001 fps | 92.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 73% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 56% | 850 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,954 psi | 48% | 774 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,853 psi | 48% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 54% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 57% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 65% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,640 psi | 68% | 928 fps | 98.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 75% | 971 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 66% | 876 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,136 psi | 21% | 515 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 44% | 804 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 74% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,054 psi | 42% | 866 fps | 85.4% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 79% | 1001 fps | 92.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 47% | 768 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 59% | 830 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,913 psi | 57% | 827 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 71% | 801 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,663 psi | 44% | 771 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 54% | 817 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,928 psi | 60% | 948 fps | 87.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 57% | 856 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 53% | 820 fps | 98% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 24,990 psi | 75% | 988 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 43% | 791 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 60% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,124 psi | 33% | 627 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 55% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,708 psi | 50% | 810 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 748 fps | 85.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,367 psi | 76% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 48% | 787 fps | 99.2% |
* 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 | Zero JHP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,125 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 692 fps to 1,125 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 26 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 39–90 %, 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. 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.