Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Prvi Partizan FMJ bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1368 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1447 fps | 93% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1493 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,489 psi | 43% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1391 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,155 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1499 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 93.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1437 fps | 88.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1434 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,282 psi | 80% | 1473 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,369 psi | 80% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1404 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1368 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% | 20,450 psi | 60% | 1194 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1243 fps | 86.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,817 psi | 76% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 70% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1289 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,039 psi | 38% | 1020 fps | 93% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,886 psi | 64% | 1306 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,658 psi | 78% | 1352 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,043 psi | 53% | 1171 fps | 97.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 12,894 psi | 38% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,884 psi | 55% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 74% | 1339 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,657 psi | 20% | 719 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,093 psi | 79% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1220 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1099 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,144 psi | 53% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,596 psi | 63% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 72% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1329 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 70% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,382 psi | 19% | 715 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,954 psi | 47% | 1135 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 11.2 gr | 72% | 17,013 psi | 50% | 1237 fps | 87.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 51% | 1115 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 60% | 1175 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,773 psi | 76% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,243 psi | 42% | 1050 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1296 fps | 87.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1220 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 56% | 1175 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,831 psi | 76% | 1371 fps | 86.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,172 psi | 47% | 1135 fps | 89.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,192 psi | 71% | 1404 fps | 86.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 66% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,979 psi | 32% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 1161 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 41% | 1070 fps | 87.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1122 fps | 99.6% |
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 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Prvi Partizan FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,499 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 981 fps to 1,499 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 39–90 %, 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. Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 115gr | Prvi Partizan 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, ADI AS 30 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.