Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Geco FMJ bullet and 55 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% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1325 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 91.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1450 fps | 90.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1371 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1421 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,025 psi | 41% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,166 psi | 80% | 1348 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,720 psi | 37% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1516 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1381 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1450 fps | 92.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1362 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1394 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,918 psi | 76% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1414 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1329 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% | 19,595 psi | 57% | 1158 fps | 95.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,929 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 51% | 1099 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 21,393 psi | 63% | 1250 fps | 86.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,903 psi | 73% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,293 psi | 68% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 62% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,452 psi | 66% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 52% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 67% | 1257 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 59% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 12,372 psi | 36% | 988 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,337 psi | 68% | 1329 fps | 86.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1309 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,158 psi | 50% | 1135 fps | 96.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,595 psi | 57% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 12,111 psi | 36% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 70% | 1299 fps | 92.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1345 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,411 psi | 19% | 699 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,136 psi | 77% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 57% | 1175 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 47% | 1063 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 50% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,047 psi | 68% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 70% | 1286 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 66% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,135 psi | 18% | 696 fps | 93.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 44% | 1102 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,426 psi | 78% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,374 psi | 45% | 1184 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 48% | 1083 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,425 psi | 75% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,374 psi | 45% | 1073 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 56% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,956 psi | 56% | 1247 fps | 85.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1194 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 54% | 1142 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,214 psi | 45% | 1096 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,762 psi | 32% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 56% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,042 psi | 50% | 1115 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 6.6 gr | 64% | 14,736 psi | 43% | 1083 fps | 87.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,679 psi | 49% | 1096 fps | 99.2% |
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 | 115gr | Geco FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,516 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 961 fps to 1,516 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 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 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 | Geco 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, SNPE Vectan SP 2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.