Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 124gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot bullet and 54 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% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1388 fps | 94% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1378 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1362 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,924 psi | 44% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1332 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,590 psi | 40% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1450 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1319 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1444 fps | 95% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1388 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1411 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1430 fps | 90.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,238 psi | 80% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1306 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% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1142 fps | 97.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,988 psi | 65% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 54% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 1148 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,208 psi | 77% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 71% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 68% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,612 psi | 69% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 55% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 1234 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,147 psi | 62% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.6 gr | 60% | 13,547 psi | 40% | 991 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1260 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1122 fps | 98.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 12,937 psi | 38% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,773 psi | 76% | 1289 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,904 psi | 20% | 692 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 52% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 58% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 71% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1273 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,047 psi | 71% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,338 psi | 19% | 679 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,201 psi | 48% | 1089 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10.1 gr | 68% | 15,171 psi | 45% | 1135 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,419 psi | 51% | 1066 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 65% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,248 psi | 62% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,382 psi | 77% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,533 psi | 43% | 1014 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,217 psi | 53% | 1184 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1175 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1122 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 1250 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,172 psi | 47% | 1086 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 1352 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,973 psi | 64% | 1299 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,153 psi | 33% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,147 psi | 62% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 1112 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 42% | 1033 fps | 88.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,637 psi | 52% | 1076 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 | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,450 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 942 fps to 1,450 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 40–90 %, 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 | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 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.