Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Nosler Assured Stopping Power bullet and 54 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% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1322 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1394 fps | 94.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1394 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,185 psi | 45% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,601 psi | 81% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,822 psi | 41% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1463 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1335 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1398 fps | 93.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1401 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1388 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1414 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1358 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1270 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% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1152 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 66% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,594 psi | 55% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1152 fps | 85.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,498 psi | 78% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 73% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 69% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 66% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,913 psi | 55% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,163 psi | 71% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,735 psi | 40% | 997 fps | 94.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 1198 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 63% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,427 psi | 80% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,463 psi | 54% | 1129 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 62% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 13,184 psi | 39% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 65% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 57% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,875 psi | 76% | 1296 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,831 psi | 20% | 692 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 65% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 51% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,579 psi | 55% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 59% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 64% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 72% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,817 psi | 76% | 1280 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,395 psi | 72% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,541 psi | 19% | 689 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 1099 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,273 psi | 45% | 1138 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 52% | 1076 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 61% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,904 psi | 76% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 43% | 1020 fps | 87.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 54% | 1188 fps | 86.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 62% | 1181 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1132 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,872 psi | 67% | 1253 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,824 psi | 49% | 1106 fps | 91.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1368 fps | 86.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1316 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 67% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 11,429 psi | 34% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1122 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 43% | 1040 fps | 89% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,854 psi | 52% | 1083 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 | 124gr | Nosler Assured Stopping Power. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,463 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 951 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 41–90 %, 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 | Nosler Assured Stopping Power 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.