Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 130gr | Sierra FMJ RN SportsMaster bullet and 53 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% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 94.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1342 fps | 92.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,881 psi | 44% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,590 psi | 40% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1411 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,412 psi | 80% | 1348 fps | 94% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1335 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1394 fps | 91.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,833 psi | 82% | 1224 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% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1112 fps | 98% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 64% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,318 psi | 54% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,797 psi | 55% | 1112 fps | 86.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,845 psi | 73% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 70% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 65% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 69% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 55% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 71% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 13,634 psi | 40% | 961 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 1158 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,803 psi | 79% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 54% | 1089 fps | 98.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5 gr | 60% | 12,966 psi | 38% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,002 psi | 65% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,179 psi | 74% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,020 psi | 76% | 1257 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,976 psi | 20% | 676 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,002 psi | 62% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 52% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 58% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,628 psi | 75% | 1234 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,308 psi | 71% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,396 psi | 19% | 659 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,360 psi | 48% | 1060 fps | 99% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.7 gr | 68% | 15,200 psi | 45% | 1106 fps | 87.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 51% | 1037 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,683 psi | 64% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 61% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,295 psi | 77% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 43% | 988 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1148 fps | 86.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1142 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1093 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1207 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 48% | 1063 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1280 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 34% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 63% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,855 psi | 55% | 1083 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,098 psi | 41% | 997 fps | 89.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,854 psi | 52% | 1047 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 | 130gr | Sierra FMJ RN SportsMaster. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,411 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 912 fps to 1,411 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 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 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 | 130gr | Sierra FMJ RN SportsMaster 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 No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.