Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot LRN 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% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1368 fps | 93.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1417 fps | 92.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,369 psi | 80% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,995 psi | 38% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1322 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,429 psi | 34% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,934 psi | 79% | 1414 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1355 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 94.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1355 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1358 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1398 fps | 89.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,759 psi | 76% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,064 psi | 79% | 1329 fps | 98% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 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% | 19,072 psi | 56% | 1115 fps | 96.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 62% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 51% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,261 psi | 57% | 1168 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,627 psi | 72% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,699 psi | 70% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 66% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 51% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1211 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 58% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 11,690 psi | 34% | 948 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 1227 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,556 psi | 75% | 1273 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,766 psi | 49% | 1099 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,632 psi | 34% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 54% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,062 psi | 71% | 1266 fps | 94.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,426 psi | 78% | 1309 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,540 psi | 16% | 659 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,600 psi | 78% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1138 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,838 psi | 46% | 1030 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,592 psi | 49% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 55% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,293 psi | 68% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,598 psi | 72% | 1260 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 65% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,801 psi | 14% | 630 fps | 90.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 44% | 1070 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,136 psi | 77% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10.6 gr | 72% | 15,084 psi | 44% | 1145 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 47% | 1037 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,990 psi | 73% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.5 gr | 60% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 991 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 56% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1207 fps | 86.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 58% | 1155 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,622 psi | 52% | 1093 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 23,960 psi | 70% | 1283 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 44% | 1063 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1329 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,616 psi | 28% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,174 psi | 56% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 49% | 1083 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,705 psi | 37% | 994 fps | 86.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 48% | 1056 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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot LRN. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,427 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 906 fps to 1,427 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 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 34–90 %, 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 LRN 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.