Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 100gr | Sellier & Bellot SP bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol and Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star.
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% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1490 fps | 99% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 90.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1516 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1549 fps | 88.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 1490 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1503 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1542 fps | 94.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1535 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1453 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1526 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,111 psi | 36% | 1030 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1614 fps | 94.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1480 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1490 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1552 fps | 89.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1526 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1558 fps | 96.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,164 psi | 74% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1529 fps | 96.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1450 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. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 55% | 1247 fps | 93.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 59% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 1191 fps | 99.1% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1391 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 70% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,047 psi | 68% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 64% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 1191 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 1352 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 58% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 12,038 psi | 35% | 1063 fps | 89.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 25,063 psi | 74% | 1483 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,598 psi | 72% | 1417 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 49% | 1220 fps | 94.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 56% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.6 gr | 60% | 11,850 psi | 35% | 1037 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 59% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 53% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 69% | 1394 fps | 90.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,527 psi | 75% | 1447 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,295 psi | 18% | 761 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 59% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,222 psi | 74% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 56% | 1276 fps | 98.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,708 psi | 46% | 1155 fps | 98.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,521 psi | 54% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 57% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1385 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,005 psi | 18% | 751 fps | 91.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 43% | 1178 fps | 94.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,251 psi | 74% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,377 psi | 57% | 1398 fps | 87.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,969 psi | 47% | 1165 fps | 93.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 59% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 1247 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,839 psi | 49% | 1211 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 55% | 1237 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,178 psi | 71% | 1486 fps | 87.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 57% | 1286 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 52% | 1227 fps | 96.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,679 psi | 49% | 1237 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 10,153 psi | 30% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 1211 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,317 psi | 48% | 1224 fps | 87.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 78% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,360 psi | 48% | 1188 fps | 98.2% |
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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 100gr | Sellier & Bellot SP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,614 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,030 fps to 1,614 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 55 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 36–90 %, 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 100gr | Sellier & Bellot SP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Hodgdon HS-6 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays 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.