Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Hornady FMJ RN ENC bullet and 55 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1263 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1332 fps | 92.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1391 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1302 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,054 psi | 41% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1450 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1322 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1394 fps | 93.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1332 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1322 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,933 psi | 76% | 1365 fps | 88.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,962 psi | 76% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1352 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1273 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% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1096 fps | 96.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 61% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 51% | 1047 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,247 psi | 56% | 1142 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 73% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 70% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,929 psi | 61% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,582 psi | 66% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 53% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 65% | 1188 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 12,546 psi | 37% | 945 fps | 92.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1214 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 60% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,135 psi | 74% | 1243 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 51% | 1089 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,198 psi | 36% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1240 fps | 93.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,657 psi | 20% | 676 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,817 psi | 76% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 59% | 1129 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,099 psi | 47% | 1010 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 51% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,884 psi | 55% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 60% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 67% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 71% | 1230 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,032 psi | 68% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,106 psi | 18% | 659 fps | 94.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 45% | 1056 fps | 97.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,194 psi | 77% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,519 psi | 46% | 1138 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 47% | 1020 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 61% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 59% | 1096 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,396 psi | 75% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6 gr | 60% | 13,750 psi | 40% | 974 fps | 85.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 57% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1188 fps | 86.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1135 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 1079 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,323 psi | 71% | 1260 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,331 psi | 45% | 1050 fps | 88.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,698 psi | 67% | 1296 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,321 psi | 63% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,573 psi | 31% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,609 psi | 58% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 51% | 1070 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 991 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 50% | 1050 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 | 124gr | Hornady FMJ RN ENC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,450 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 912 fps to 1,450 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 124gr | Hornady FMJ RN ENC 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.