Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Sierra Sports Master bullet and 54 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% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1391 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1417 fps | 92.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1457 fps | 91.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1437 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,881 psi | 44% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1407 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,532 psi | 40% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1532 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,311 psi | 80% | 1453 fps | 92.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1463 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,528 psi | 81% | 1401 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1483 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1509 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1434 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1342 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% | 20,755 psi | 61% | 1207 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,016 psi | 62% | 1260 fps | 86.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,847 psi | 79% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,685 psi | 72% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 68% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 66% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 56% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 70% | 1306 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6 gr | 60% | 13,329 psi | 39% | 1033 fps | 93.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1329 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,890 psi | 79% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1184 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,271 psi | 39% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 57% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,672 psi | 75% | 1355 fps | 94.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,773 psi | 20% | 725 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 51% | 1112 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,637 psi | 55% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 60% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 65% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 71% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 77% | 1352 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,903 psi | 73% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,469 psi | 19% | 722 fps | 95% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,795 psi | 49% | 1161 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,214 psi | 45% | 1188 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,564 psi | 52% | 1129 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 65% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 62% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,794 psi | 43% | 1073 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 1240 fps | 85.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 63% | 1243 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 57% | 1188 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,121 psi | 77% | 1381 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 48% | 1145 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1424 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1381 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 11,443 psi | 34% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1175 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 42% | 1083 fps | 87.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 1145 fps | 99.8% |
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 | Sierra Sports Master. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,532 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 994 fps to 1,532 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 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 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 | Sierra Sports Master 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.