Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and Alliant Herco.
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% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1368 fps | 93.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1417 fps | 92.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,373 psi | 42% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1322 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,097 psi | 38% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1430 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1421 fps | 94.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 89.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1362 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1385 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,064 psi | 79% | 1398 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,601 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,716 psi | 78% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1329 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1299 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% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1125 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 65% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 52% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1171 fps | 86.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,672 psi | 75% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 71% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 63% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,902 psi | 67% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 68% | 1214 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 13,140 psi | 39% | 974 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,379 psi | 63% | 1234 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 61% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,687 psi | 78% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 52% | 1102 fps | 97.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 59% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,488 psi | 37% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,005 psi | 73% | 1270 fps | 94.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,744 psi | 20% | 682 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,745 psi | 78% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1152 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 52% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 58% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 71% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,338 psi | 74% | 1263 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 71% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,469 psi | 19% | 682 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,215 psi | 48% | 1086 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,166 psi | 80% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.7 gr | 68% | 14,315 psi | 42% | 1106 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,926 psi | 50% | 1050 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,672 psi | 75% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 14,228 psi | 42% | 997 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 60% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,986 psi | 59% | 1224 fps | 87.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,508 psi | 60% | 1158 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 1106 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,498 psi | 75% | 1296 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,853 psi | 47% | 1073 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,745 psi | 78% | 1335 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,424 psi | 72% | 1345 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,994 psi | 32% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,130 psi | 53% | 1096 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 41% | 1017 fps | 87.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 52% | 1073 fps | 99.8% |
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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,430 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 925 fps to 1,430 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 56 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, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot 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 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.