Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 125gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot 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, 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% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1371 fps | 93.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 93.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1342 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,707 psi | 43% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1440 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1312 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1437 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1365 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1394 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1414 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,079 psi | 79% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 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% | 20,523 psi | 60% | 1132 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,318 psi | 54% | 1129 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,034 psi | 76% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 73% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 64% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 69% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,521 psi | 54% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,670 psi | 69% | 1220 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 94.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,234 psi | 65% | 1253 fps | 87.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,064 psi | 79% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 53% | 1109 fps | 98% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,450 psi | 60% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,763 psi | 37% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 57% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 74% | 1270 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,701 psi | 20% | 679 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,166 psi | 80% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,277 psi | 62% | 1158 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 51% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 70% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1266 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,859 psi | 70% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,425 psi | 19% | 679 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 49% | 1093 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.9 gr | 68% | 14,881 psi | 44% | 1122 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 51% | 1053 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,107 psi | 77% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.4 gr | 60% | 14,460 psi | 42% | 1004 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 59% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 53% | 1175 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1165 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 56% | 1112 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,672 psi | 75% | 1299 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 47% | 1076 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,876 psi | 79% | 1335 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1296 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,371 psi | 33% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 1102 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 42% | 1024 fps | 88.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 1079 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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 125gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,440 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 932 fps to 1,440 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, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 125gr | 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.