Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | ALSA PRO FMJ 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, Vihtavuori N350 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% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 92.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1398 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1319 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,330 psi | 42% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1299 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,024 psi | 38% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,528 psi | 81% | 1404 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1401 fps | 93.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1335 fps | 88.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,860 psi | 76% | 1368 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,208 psi | 77% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1319 fps | 97.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 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% | 19,595 psi | 57% | 1106 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 52% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1161 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,063 psi | 74% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 71% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 66% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 63% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 65% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 54% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,626 psi | 66% | 1198 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 60% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,749 psi | 37% | 955 fps | 93.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1220 fps | 86% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,015 psi | 59% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,396 psi | 75% | 1253 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 52% | 1099 fps | 97.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,459 psi | 37% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,929 psi | 61% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,014 psi | 56% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 71% | 1247 fps | 93.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,585 psi | 19% | 673 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,150 psi | 77% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1135 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 1024 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 56% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 69% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 71% | 1237 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,309 psi | 19% | 673 fps | 94.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,722 psi | 46% | 1066 fps | 98.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,542 psi | 78% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10 gr | 72% | 16,027 psi | 47% | 1155 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,447 psi | 48% | 1030 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,147 psi | 62% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 60% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 76% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 13,895 psi | 41% | 984 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1211 fps | 87.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 1142 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 1086 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,903 psi | 73% | 1276 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,505 psi | 45% | 1056 fps | 89.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1312 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,863 psi | 32% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,622 psi | 52% | 1079 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 6 gr | 60% | 13,576 psi | 40% | 1001 fps | 87.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,303 psi | 51% | 1060 fps | 99.7% |
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 | 124gr | ALSA PRO FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,404 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 922 fps to 1,404 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 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 38–90 %, 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, Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 124gr | ALSA PRO FMJ 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.