Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 123gr | Norma FMJ TC bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,557 psi | 81% | 1342 fps | 92.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1391 fps | 91.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1362 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,750 psi | 43% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,021 psi | 79% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,431 psi | 39% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1463 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1332 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1457 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1381 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1427 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1362 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1280 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% | 20,421 psi | 60% | 1142 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1145 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,658 psi | 78% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,918 psi | 73% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,670 psi | 69% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,973 psi | 64% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 69% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,014 psi | 56% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,583 psi | 69% | 1237 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.6 gr | 60% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 991 fps | 94.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,740 psi | 58% | 1204 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 61% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,832 psi | 79% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1135 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 12,778 psi | 37% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 66% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,425 psi | 75% | 1289 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,846 psi | 20% | 696 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 62% | 1171 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,277 psi | 62% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 73% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,005 psi | 76% | 1286 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,482 psi | 72% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,541 psi | 19% | 692 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 48% | 1102 fps | 98.7% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10.1 gr | 68% | 14,939 psi | 44% | 1135 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 1066 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,107 psi | 77% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 42% | 1014 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,970 psi | 53% | 1181 fps | 85.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1188 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 56% | 1125 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,730 psi | 75% | 1316 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 48% | 1099 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1365 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1309 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,473 psi | 34% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 61% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 54% | 1112 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,156 psi | 42% | 1033 fps | 88.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 53% | 1089 fps | 99.9% |
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 | 123gr | Norma FMJ TC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,463 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 945 fps to 1,463 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 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. Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 123gr | Norma FMJ TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.