Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch bullet and 50 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>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1302 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 93.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1437 fps | 92.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,296 psi | 80% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,795 psi | 46% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1467 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1368 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1457 fps | 94.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1375 fps | 89.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1378 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 1437 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1358 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1316 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% | 22,626 psi | 66% | 1194 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,508 psi | 60% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 1152 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,527 psi | 75% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 71% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,309 psi | 74% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,788 psi | 76% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 69% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 15,418 psi | 45% | 1043 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 1260 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 67% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1181 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 14,765 psi | 43% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,601 psi | 25% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 70% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 56% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 62% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 68% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,773 psi | 76% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,108 psi | 80% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,398 psi | 25% | 745 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 1148 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 42% | 1099 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1119 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 68% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 66% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,325 psi | 80% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 48% | 1070 fps | 89.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 66% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1247 fps | 88.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1227 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1175 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,295 psi | 74% | 1309 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1155 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,035 psi | 79% | 1362 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,640 psi | 66% | 1325 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,048 psi | 73% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 13,373 psi | 39% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,540 psi | 69% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1168 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 48% | 1093 fps | 91.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1129 fps | 100% |
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 50 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,467 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 984 fps to 1,467 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 of the 50 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 46–90 %, 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 121gr | Frontier Bullets CMJ FP atch 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, ADI AS 30 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.