Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Prvi Partizan JHP bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, 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% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1358 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1440 fps | 92.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1430 fps | 90.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1404 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,620 psi | 43% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1381 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,271 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1496 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1493 fps | 93.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1388 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1430 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1427 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,050 psi | 79% | 1467 fps | 88.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,919 psi | 79% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1371 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% | 20,015 psi | 59% | 1181 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,854 psi | 52% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,262 psi | 59% | 1234 fps | 85.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,049 psi | 76% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,279 psi | 71% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 67% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,973 psi | 64% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 68% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 55% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 68% | 1280 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,169 psi | 39% | 1024 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1299 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1342 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 52% | 1158 fps | 97.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 12,604 psi | 37% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,932 psi | 73% | 1332 fps | 93.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,715 psi | 20% | 719 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,383 psi | 80% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1211 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 50% | 1102 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 57% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 70% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 74% | 1322 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,960 psi | 70% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,396 psi | 19% | 715 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,099 psi | 47% | 1138 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,810 psi | 49% | 1234 fps | 87.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,926 psi | 50% | 1102 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 60% | 1175 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 76% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.8 gr | 60% | 14,373 psi | 42% | 1053 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,320 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,102 psi | 59% | 1283 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 1224 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 55% | 1165 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,570 psi | 75% | 1362 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,911 psi | 47% | 1129 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,989 psi | 70% | 1401 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,066 psi | 32% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,735 psi | 40% | 1060 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 51% | 1125 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 JHP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,496 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 981 fps to 1,496 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 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. SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 115gr | Prvi Partizan JHP 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. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.