Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Nosler HP bullet and 52 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% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1421 fps | 92.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1463 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1440 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,127 psi | 44% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,779 psi | 40% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1542 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1401 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1473 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1476 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 1407 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1516 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1437 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1345 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% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1217 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 65% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1266 fps | 87.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,122 psi | 80% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,164 psi | 74% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,060 psi | 65% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 70% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 57% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 71% | 1312 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,495 psi | 63% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 13,547 psi | 40% | 1043 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,669 psi | 67% | 1335 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1194 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,082 psi | 38% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 58% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,411 psi | 77% | 1375 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,005 psi | 21% | 738 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,683 psi | 64% | 1243 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 52% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 54% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 64% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,685 psi | 72% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,295 psi | 77% | 1355 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 72% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,657 psi | 20% | 732 fps | 95.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,042 psi | 50% | 1171 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,679 psi | 46% | 1201 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,811 psi | 52% | 1138 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,307 psi | 65% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,629 psi | 78% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,982 psi | 44% | 1083 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,755 psi | 61% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 55% | 1257 fps | 85.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1250 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 1194 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,760 psi | 79% | 1398 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,549 psi | 49% | 1152 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 1385 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 66% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 11,748 psi | 34% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 56% | 1181 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,446 psi | 42% | 1089 fps | 88% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 54% | 1152 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 52 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Nosler HP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,542 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,001 fps to 1,542 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 of the 52 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 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.