Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT bullet and 57 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 SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2.
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% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1266 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 92.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1394 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,924 psi | 41% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1296 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,662 psi | 37% | 915 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1463 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1394 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1296 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1332 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,599 psi | 75% | 1362 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,715 psi | 75% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1355 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1276 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% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1099 fps | 96.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,726 psi | 61% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 51% | 1050 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1155 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 72% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 69% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 66% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,408 psi | 66% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,912 psi | 53% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 65% | 1191 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 12,430 psi | 36% | 948 fps | 92.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,726 psi | 61% | 1214 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 59% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1260 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,289 psi | 51% | 1089 fps | 97% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,082 psi | 35% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 54% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,873 psi | 70% | 1240 fps | 93.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,890 psi | 79% | 1296 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,628 psi | 19% | 679 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,426 psi | 78% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,856 psi | 58% | 1129 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,549 psi | 49% | 1027 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 50% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,598 psi | 69% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 70% | 1230 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 67% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,077 psi | 18% | 659 fps | 94.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,302 psi | 45% | 1060 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,774 psi | 79% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,316 psi | 45% | 1135 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,621 psi | 49% | 1037 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,726 psi | 61% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1099 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 74% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.4 gr | 64% | 15,345 psi | 45% | 1027 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1204 fps | 86.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 58% | 1135 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 54% | 1093 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 1260 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,171 psi | 45% | 1050 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 1309 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,472 psi | 31% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 57% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 51% | 1073 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 13,256 psi | 39% | 991 fps | 86.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,209 psi | 80% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 1053 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 57 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,463 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 915 fps to 1,463 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 57 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 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 123gr | Geco SOFTPOINT 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 No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.