Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 115gr | Speer JHP bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and Alliant Herco.
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% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1368 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1447 fps | 93% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1493 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1411 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,504 psi | 43% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1391 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,184 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1506 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1371 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1503 fps | 94% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1440 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1434 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,369 psi | 80% | 1476 fps | 89.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,412 psi | 80% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1404 fps | 97.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 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% | 20,508 psi | 60% | 1194 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 54% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 1230 fps | 85.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 76% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,062 psi | 71% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,771 psi | 67% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 64% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1293 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 1020 fps | 93% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,393 psi | 63% | 1296 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,701 psi | 78% | 1352 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,043 psi | 53% | 1171 fps | 97.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,531 psi | 37% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 64% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,913 psi | 55% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1339 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,686 psi | 20% | 719 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,108 psi | 80% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1220 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,013 psi | 50% | 1099 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 53% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 57% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1332 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,382 psi | 19% | 715 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,983 psi | 47% | 1135 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 11.1 gr | 72% | 16,679 psi | 49% | 1227 fps | 87.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,289 psi | 51% | 1115 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 62% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 60% | 1175 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 76% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.8 gr | 60% | 14,257 psi | 42% | 1050 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 59% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,450 psi | 60% | 1293 fps | 87.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1220 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 57% | 1175 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,309 psi | 74% | 1358 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,215 psi | 48% | 1138 fps | 89.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,308 psi | 71% | 1407 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,008 psi | 32% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 54% | 1161 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,040 psi | 41% | 1073 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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 115gr | Speer JHP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,506 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 981 fps to 1,506 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 of the 55 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, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 115gr | Speer 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. 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.