Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Limit FMJ bullet and 53 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>> | 72% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,369 psi | 80% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 93.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1362 fps | 91.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1339 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,215 psi | 48% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,214 psi | 45% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1440 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1306 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1375 fps | 93.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1276 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,064 psi | 79% | 1302 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1339 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1250 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% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1122 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,452 psi | 66% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 57% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1135 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,093 psi | 79% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 74% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,163 psi | 71% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,627 psi | 72% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 59% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,960 psi | 70% | 1211 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 14,576 psi | 43% | 988 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,566 psi | 60% | 1191 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 66% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1122 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.9 gr | 60% | 14,214 psi | 42% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 59% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 1276 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,311 psi | 24% | 705 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 69% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 73% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,687 psi | 78% | 1266 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,846 psi | 76% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,151 psi | 24% | 712 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1093 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,649 psi | 43% | 1093 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 54% | 1063 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 64% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,731 psi | 78% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 45% | 1010 fps | 87.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 57% | 1181 fps | 86.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 1161 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 60% | 1119 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,670 psi | 69% | 1234 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,318 psi | 51% | 1086 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1289 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,482 psi | 69% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 12,836 psi | 38% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 57% | 1099 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,287 psi | 45% | 1030 fps | 89.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,145 psi | 56% | 1083 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 53 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 124gr | Limit FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,440 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 942 fps to 1,440 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 45–90 %, 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 124gr | Limit 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.