Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 140gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ bullet and 54 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% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 1171 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 94.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1296 fps | 93.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 98.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,055 psi | 44% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,793 psi | 40% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,441 psi | 81% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1306 fps | 88.2% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1316 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1306 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,731 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,847 psi | 79% | 1237 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1240 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1355 fps | 93.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1266 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1184 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% | 21,321 psi | 63% | 1070 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,013 psi | 50% | 1024 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,267 psi | 80% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,599 psi | 75% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,728 psi | 70% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 67% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,859 psi | 70% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 57% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,988 psi | 65% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 13,895 psi | 41% | 928 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 53% | 1073 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 55% | 1050 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 13,169 psi | 39% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 67% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,629 psi | 78% | 1211 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,136 psi | 21% | 650 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,567 psi | 63% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,840 psi | 52% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 55% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,452 psi | 66% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,135 psi | 74% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,672 psi | 78% | 1194 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,903 psi | 73% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,527 psi | 19% | 636 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 49% | 1024 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1247 fps | 86% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,634 psi | 40% | 1014 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,840 psi | 52% | 994 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 65% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 63% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,382 psi | 77% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 45% | 958 fps | 89.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 1109 fps | 88.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1102 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1050 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 68% | 1171 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 50% | 1030 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 25,222 psi | 74% | 1224 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,726 psi | 61% | 1184 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,843 psi | 67% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 11,879 psi | 35% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,988 psi | 65% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,305 psi | 57% | 1043 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 43% | 965 fps | 90.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,333 psi | 54% | 1010 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 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 140gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,355 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 869 fps to 1,355 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 of the 54 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 140gr | Sellier & Bellot 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, ReloadSwiss RS 24 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.