Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot SP bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1375 fps | 93.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 93% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1348 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,707 psi | 43% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1329 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,416 psi | 39% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1434 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1306 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1430 fps | 94.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1371 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1368 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1404 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,108 psi | 80% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1335 fps | 98.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1263 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% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1135 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 86.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 76% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,845 psi | 73% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,858 psi | 67% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 54% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,670 psi | 69% | 1227 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 61% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 94.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1240 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 61% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 53% | 1112 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,465 psi | 60% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 12,763 psi | 37% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 57% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,222 psi | 74% | 1276 fps | 94.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,701 psi | 20% | 682 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,224 psi | 80% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 60% | 1152 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 49% | 1040 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 53% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 70% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,657 psi | 75% | 1270 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 70% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,425 psi | 19% | 679 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 47% | 1083 fps | 98.5% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.8 gr | 68% | 14,446 psi | 42% | 1112 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 51% | 1056 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,350 psi | 63% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,165 psi | 77% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,446 psi | 42% | 1007 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 52% | 1165 fps | 85.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1168 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 56% | 1115 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,730 psi | 75% | 1302 fps | 87.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 47% | 1083 fps | 90.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,861 psi | 79% | 1342 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1286 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,356 psi | 33% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 54% | 1106 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,764 psi | 40% | 1014 fps | 87.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 51% | 1070 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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot SP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,434 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 935 fps to 1,434 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 of the 55 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 39–90 %, 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, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 124gr | Sellier & Bellot SP 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.