Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 140gr | ALSA PRO FMJ 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, 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% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 94.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 94% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,561 psi | 40% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1329 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1204 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1319 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1263 fps | 90.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1253 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 88.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1312 fps | 91.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,050 psi | 79% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1230 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1191 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% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 1047 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,333 psi | 54% | 1043 fps | 86.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,686 psi | 75% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 71% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,858 psi | 67% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,739 psi | 55% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.9 gr | 60% | 13,343 psi | 39% | 902 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1093 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 62% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 79% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,970 psi | 53% | 1020 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 12,952 psi | 38% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,002 psi | 65% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,555 psi | 72% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,251 psi | 74% | 1175 fps | 95.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,730 psi | 20% | 627 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,669 psi | 64% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 50% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 52% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 70% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,614 psi | 75% | 1165 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 70% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,469 psi | 19% | 627 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 47% | 997 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 8.8 gr | 68% | 14,533 psi | 43% | 1037 fps | 87.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 971 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 61% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 994 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 42% | 925 fps | 88.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,044 psi | 59% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 52% | 1079 fps | 87% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1070 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 57% | 1024 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 65% | 1135 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,201 psi | 48% | 997 fps | 91.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,905 psi | 79% | 1237 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 1201 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 66% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,502 psi | 34% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 1020 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 41% | 942 fps | 89.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 52% | 988 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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 140gr | ALSA PRO FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,329 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 860 fps to 1,329 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 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 | 140gr | ALSA PRO FMJ 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 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.