Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | ALSA PRO FMJ bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1335 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 91.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1460 fps | 91.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,354 psi | 80% | 1368 fps | 94.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,880 psi | 41% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1355 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,633 psi | 37% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1522 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1385 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1457 fps | 92.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1358 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1391 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,382 psi | 77% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1424 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1339 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% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1155 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,042 psi | 50% | 1096 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 21,654 psi | 64% | 1257 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,613 psi | 72% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 70% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,713 psi | 67% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 61% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 65% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 53% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 1253 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 12,662 psi | 37% | 1001 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1325 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1319 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,969 psi | 50% | 1132 fps | 96.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 57% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 11,995 psi | 35% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 71% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 71% | 1309 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,542 psi | 78% | 1355 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,657 psi | 20% | 712 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,817 psi | 76% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 59% | 1188 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 48% | 1073 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 61% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 69% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1293 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,106 psi | 18% | 692 fps | 93.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 45% | 1112 fps | 97.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,136 psi | 77% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,563 psi | 46% | 1191 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,331 psi | 48% | 1079 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 59% | 1155 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 74% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,650 psi | 46% | 1083 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,232 psi | 56% | 1257 fps | 85.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1188 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,217 psi | 53% | 1138 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 45% | 1106 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,704 psi | 31% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,609 psi | 58% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 51% | 1125 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 13,300 psi | 39% | 1040 fps | 85.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1106 fps | 99.3% |
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 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 115gr | ALSA PRO FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,522 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 958 fps to 1,522 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 37–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 115gr | ALSA PRO FMJ 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. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.