Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, 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% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1322 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1388 fps | 91% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1437 fps | 90.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1362 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 96.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1404 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,851 psi | 41% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 1345 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,575 psi | 37% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1499 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1368 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1434 fps | 91.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1348 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1444 fps | 88.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,833 psi | 82% | 1381 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,860 psi | 76% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1401 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1325 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% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 1138 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 50% | 1093 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 84% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 1234 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,062 psi | 71% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 70% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,535 psi | 51% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 64% | 1234 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 12,256 psi | 36% | 981 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 1309 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 57% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 74% | 1302 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,042 psi | 50% | 1129 fps | 96.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,421 psi | 57% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5 gr | 60% | 11,951 psi | 35% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 55% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1283 fps | 92.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 76% | 1332 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,498 psi | 19% | 702 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,078 psi | 77% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1168 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 46% | 1056 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 49% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 59% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 67% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 70% | 1280 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,408 psi | 66% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,961 psi | 17% | 682 fps | 92.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,997 psi | 44% | 1093 fps | 96.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,027 psi | 50% | 1230 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,867 psi | 47% | 1060 fps | 95.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,595 psi | 57% | 1138 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,410 psi | 72% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,924 psi | 44% | 1056 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1296 fps | 87.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 56% | 1171 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 52% | 1119 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,919 psi | 79% | 1371 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,721 psi | 43% | 1079 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,530 psi | 31% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,014 psi | 56% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,897 psi | 50% | 1109 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 6.5 gr | 64% | 14,663 psi | 43% | 1076 fps | 87.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,629 psi | 78% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,607 psi | 49% | 1089 fps | 99.1% |
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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,499 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 951 fps to 1,499 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 37–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 115gr | Sellier & Bellot 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. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.