Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Sierra Tournament Master bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1358 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1440 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1486 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1404 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,620 psi | 43% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1381 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,285 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1499 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1496 fps | 93.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1391 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1434 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1427 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,166 psi | 80% | 1467 fps | 88.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,963 psi | 79% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1398 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 1181 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 52% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,305 psi | 60% | 1237 fps | 85.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,092 psi | 77% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 71% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 67% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,002 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,594 psi | 55% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1280 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,198 psi | 39% | 1024 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1299 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1342 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 52% | 1161 fps | 97.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 59% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 37% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,596 psi | 63% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 56% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,019 psi | 73% | 1332 fps | 94% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,715 psi | 20% | 719 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,321 psi | 63% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,600 psi | 78% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1211 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 1102 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 57% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,960 psi | 70% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,150 psi | 74% | 1322 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 70% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,396 psi | 19% | 715 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,157 psi | 47% | 1138 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,476 psi | 48% | 1224 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1102 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,092 psi | 77% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,402 psi | 42% | 1053 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1286 fps | 86.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1224 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 1165 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,121 psi | 74% | 1352 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,940 psi | 47% | 1129 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,018 psi | 70% | 1401 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,081 psi | 33% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,764 psi | 40% | 1060 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1125 fps | 99.6% |
* 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 Tournament Master. 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 19 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. 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.