Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Nosler Assured Stopping Power 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% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1388 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1424 fps | 92.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1457 fps | 91.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1434 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,474 psi | 40% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1539 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,557 psi | 81% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1394 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,833 psi | 82% | 1467 fps | 93% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1473 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1460 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1506 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1430 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 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% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1207 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,885 psi | 61% | 1260 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,701 psi | 78% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 72% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,859 psi | 70% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 1302 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 64% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 13,648 psi | 40% | 1047 fps | 94% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,350 psi | 66% | 1329 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,427 psi | 80% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 54% | 1184 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,184 psi | 39% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,307 psi | 65% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 77% | 1365 fps | 94.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,034 psi | 21% | 738 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 65% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1230 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,289 psi | 51% | 1112 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 65% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,932 psi | 73% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,991 psi | 76% | 1348 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,772 psi | 73% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,454 psi | 19% | 722 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,737 psi | 49% | 1161 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,505 psi | 45% | 1194 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 51% | 1125 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 62% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 77% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 43% | 1073 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 54% | 1250 fps | 85.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1243 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 1184 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,513 psi | 78% | 1391 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,723 psi | 49% | 1158 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,626 psi | 66% | 1378 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 11,400 psi | 33% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 55% | 1171 fps | 98.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 42% | 1079 fps | 87.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 53% | 1145 fps | 99.8% |
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 | Nosler Assured Stopping Power. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,539 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 991 fps to 1,539 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 40–90 %, 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 | Nosler Assured Stopping Power 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.