Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Nosler FMJ 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% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1381 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1407 fps | 91.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1450 fps | 91% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1430 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,982 psi | 44% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,166 psi | 80% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1411 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,383 psi | 80% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,648 psi | 40% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1526 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,354 psi | 80% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1388 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1460 fps | 92.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1457 fps | 89.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1453 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1506 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1424 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1335 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% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1198 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,275 psi | 54% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 1253 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,382 psi | 77% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,947 psi | 73% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 69% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,855 psi | 55% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,540 psi | 69% | 1293 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6 gr | 60% | 13,445 psi | 39% | 1037 fps | 93.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1322 fps | 86.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,195 psi | 80% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1188 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 61% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.6 gr | 60% | 12,937 psi | 38% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,020 psi | 76% | 1362 fps | 94.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,817 psi | 20% | 728 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1237 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,535 psi | 51% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,497 psi | 72% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 76% | 1342 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,512 psi | 19% | 722 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 1152 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,040 psi | 44% | 1181 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,245 psi | 51% | 1119 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,669 psi | 64% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,527 psi | 78% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 43% | 1066 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 54% | 1243 fps | 85.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 62% | 1234 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 56% | 1178 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,947 psi | 76% | 1378 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 49% | 1148 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,582 psi | 66% | 1375 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,452 psi | 66% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 11,545 psi | 34% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,333 psi | 54% | 1165 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,388 psi | 42% | 1086 fps | 87.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 99.7% |
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 FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,526 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 997 fps to 1,526 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 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. 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.