Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Norma HP bullet and 53 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>> | 72% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1388 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1424 fps | 92.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1467 fps | 91.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1444 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,214 psi | 45% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1414 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,876 psi | 79% | 1470 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,427 psi | 80% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1401 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1463 fps | 93% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1467 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1398 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1490 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1516 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,282 psi | 80% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1440 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1348 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% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1204 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 54% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1270 fps | 87.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,251 psi | 74% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 65% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 70% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 56% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1299 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 13,619 psi | 40% | 1043 fps | 94% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1325 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 62% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 55% | 1194 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 61% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,126 psi | 39% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,713 psi | 67% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,947 psi | 76% | 1365 fps | 94.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,005 psi | 21% | 738 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 64% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 64% | 1243 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 52% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 59% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 64% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 73% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,455 psi | 78% | 1358 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 72% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,440 psi | 19% | 722 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,650 psi | 49% | 1158 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,418 psi | 45% | 1194 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 51% | 1125 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 76% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,649 psi | 43% | 1070 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1247 fps | 85.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,683 psi | 64% | 1253 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1198 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,368 psi | 77% | 1391 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 49% | 1155 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1430 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,003 psi | 67% | 1388 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 11,385 psi | 33% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 56% | 1184 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,518 psi | 43% | 1093 fps | 88.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1155 fps | 99.9% |
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 53 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Norma HP. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,516 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,001 fps to 1,516 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 41–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N105 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 | 115gr | Norma HP 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. ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450, Alliant Herco 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.