Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 147gr | Winchester FMJ HB bullet and 51 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% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1211 fps | 94.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1250 fps | 94.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,340 psi | 80% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,505 psi | 48% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,592 psi | 46% | 850 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 88.4% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,557 psi | 81% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1181 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,267 psi | 80% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 90.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1230 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1168 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1129 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% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1024 fps | 98.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 69% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,072 psi | 53% | 991 fps | 86.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,599 psi | 75% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,743 psi | 70% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,106 psi | 74% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 15,142 psi | 44% | 899 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 56% | 1037 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 60% | 1024 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 14,620 psi | 43% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,163 psi | 71% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,450 psi | 60% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,470 psi | 25% | 633 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,174 psi | 56% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 60% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,933 psi | 76% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,311 psi | 80% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,325 psi | 24% | 640 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 54% | 997 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,267 psi | 80% | 1201 fps | 86.7% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,619 psi | 40% | 955 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,876 psi | 79% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 47% | 922 fps | 90.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 66% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 60% | 1086 fps | 90.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 68% | 1066 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 61% | 1004 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,860 psi | 73% | 1135 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 53% | 997 fps | 94% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 1135 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 1102 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 71% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.4 gr | 60% | 13,140 psi | 39% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,003 psi | 67% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 1004 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 46% | 942 fps | 92.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,682 psi | 58% | 974 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 51 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 147gr | Winchester FMJ HB. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,293 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 840 fps to 1,293 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 of the 51 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 46–89 %, leaving at least 11 % 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 | 147gr | Winchester FMJ HB 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.