Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | LOS FMJ RN bullet and 52 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% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1289 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1322 fps | 92.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1371 fps | 91.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1342 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,041 psi | 47% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,011 psi | 44% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1388 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1312 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1381 fps | 93.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1309 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1414 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1257 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% | 21,350 psi | 63% | 1132 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,609 psi | 58% | 1142 fps | 85.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 73% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 70% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,424 psi | 69% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 71% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 58% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 72% | 1224 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,452 psi | 66% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 14,823 psi | 43% | 997 fps | 95.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1201 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 59% | 1132 fps | 98.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5 gr | 60% | 14,533 psi | 43% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 58% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,701 psi | 78% | 1286 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,267 psi | 24% | 705 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 68% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 66% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 54% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,595 psi | 57% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 62% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 67% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,309 psi | 74% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,861 psi | 79% | 1273 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,093 psi | 24% | 709 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 52% | 1102 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,808 psi | 43% | 1096 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 53% | 1060 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,843 psi | 67% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,339 psi | 77% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 46% | 1020 fps | 88.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 57% | 1188 fps | 87.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 65% | 1171 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,262 psi | 59% | 1115 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 70% | 1240 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 51% | 1093 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,047 psi | 68% | 1299 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,989 psi | 70% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 13,184 psi | 39% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 65% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,682 psi | 58% | 1112 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,519 psi | 46% | 1040 fps | 89.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,421 psi | 57% | 1089 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 52 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 124gr | LOS FMJ RN. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,414 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 938 fps to 1,414 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 52 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 44–90 %, 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 | LOS FMJ RN 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 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.