Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master bullet and 53 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>> | 68% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1280 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1365 fps | 93.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,195 psi | 80% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1404 fps | 92.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,345 psi | 45% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,011 psi | 41% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1421 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1342 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1404 fps | 94.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1407 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1348 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1385 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1463 fps | 92.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1375 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1286 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% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 98% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 66% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,739 psi | 55% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,348 psi | 57% | 1165 fps | 86.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,282 psi | 80% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,918 psi | 73% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 71% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 57% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 71% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,350 psi | 66% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,851 psi | 41% | 1001 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1211 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,189 psi | 56% | 1145 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 13,314 psi | 39% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 66% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,919 psi | 79% | 1316 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,034 psi | 21% | 699 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 66% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,845 psi | 73% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,368 psi | 77% | 1289 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 74% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,715 psi | 20% | 699 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 50% | 1112 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,909 psi | 41% | 1096 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 52% | 1076 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 65% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,495 psi | 63% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,803 psi | 79% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,127 psi | 44% | 1033 fps | 88.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 56% | 1204 fps | 87.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 64% | 1194 fps | 99% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 1132 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 1273 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 1106 fps | 91.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 25,730 psi | 75% | 1325 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1273 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 67% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 11,661 psi | 34% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 56% | 1122 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,605 psi | 43% | 1043 fps | 89.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 54% | 1096 fps | 100% |
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 53 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,463 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 955 fps to 1,463 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 53 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 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master 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.