Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 125gr | Sierra Tournament Master bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 93.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1371 fps | 91.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1342 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,736 psi | 43% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,431 psi | 39% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1437 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1312 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1437 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1398 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1414 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,122 psi | 80% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1260 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1132 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,362 psi | 54% | 1125 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,121 psi | 77% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 73% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,858 psi | 67% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 69% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,699 psi | 70% | 1224 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,416 psi | 39% | 978 fps | 94.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,683 psi | 64% | 1240 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,339 psi | 77% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 53% | 1109 fps | 98% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 65% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 57% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,295 psi | 74% | 1273 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,730 psi | 20% | 682 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,238 psi | 80% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,321 psi | 63% | 1158 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 51% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 70% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 75% | 1266 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,873 psi | 70% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,440 psi | 19% | 679 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,070 psi | 47% | 1079 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,910 psi | 44% | 1122 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,289 psi | 51% | 1056 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 63% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,165 psi | 77% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,489 psi | 43% | 1004 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 52% | 1161 fps | 85.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 61% | 1161 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 57% | 1112 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,788 psi | 76% | 1299 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,157 psi | 47% | 1076 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,948 psi | 79% | 1335 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1296 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,385 psi | 33% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 62% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1102 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 42% | 1024 fps | 88.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 52% | 1066 fps | 99.9% |
* 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 | 125gr | Sierra Tournament Master. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,437 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 932 fps to 1,437 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 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. 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.