Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 75gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20 and Somchem MS200.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1690 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1696 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1703 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1729 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,714 psi | 73% | 1663 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1755 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1798 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1601 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1716 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1716 fps | 88.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1795 fps | 92.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,456 psi | 28% | 1099 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1745 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1690 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1768 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1693 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1752 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1686 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 1713 fps | 95.4% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1732 fps | 91.2% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1716 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1739 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,340 psi | 24% | 1066 fps | 91.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1778 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1713 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1673 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1716 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1706 fps | 90% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1709 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1778 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1752 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1775 fps | 92.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1768 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1749 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1736 fps | 91.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1801 fps | 91.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1745 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. 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,085 psi | 50% | 1394 fps | 86.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,766 psi | 49% | 1355 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,618 psi | 37% | 1257 fps | 91.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 53% | 1470 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 57% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 55% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,056 psi | 47% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 50% | 1388 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,734 psi | 37% | 1266 fps | 94.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 50% | 1437 fps | 91.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 45% | 1335 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 13,706 psi | 40% | 1322 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 44% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 58% | 1522 fps | 92.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 6.7 gr | 64% | 13,982 psi | 41% | 1342 fps | 86.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 43% | 1302 fps | 98.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,224 psi | 24% | 1070 fps | 92% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 44% | 1345 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 72% | 1631 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1634 fps | 85.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 23,047 psi | 68% | 1611 fps | 87.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 4,786 psi | 14% | 827 fps | 86% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,707 psi | 43% | 1352 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1486 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,967 psi | 41% | 1329 fps | 89.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,676 psi | 34% | 1211 fps | 90.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,182 psi | 33% | 1250 fps | 95.3% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 42% | 1306 fps | 97.6% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,708 psi | 46% | 1345 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 53% | 1467 fps | 88.5% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1552 fps | 85.7% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 78% | 1647 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 46% | 1407 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 84% | 6,048 psi | 18% | 928 fps | 85.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 6.9 gr | 64% | 12,227 psi | 36% | 1286 fps | 85.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,793 psi | 40% | 1283 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,867 psi | 47% | 1348 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 44% | 1325 fps | 92.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,726 psi | 61% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,307 psi | 65% | 1568 fps | 85.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,518 psi | 43% | 1329 fps | 93.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,460 psi | 42% | 1335 fps | 85.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 13,416 psi | 39% | 1286 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1558 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 75% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,403 psi | 45% | 1362 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,686 psi | 20% | 971 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,561 psi | 40% | 1335 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,475 psi | 42% | 1339 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1601 fps | 87.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,885 psi | 61% | 1512 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,991 psi | 76% | 1696 fps | 88.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,937 psi | 35% | 1234 fps | 89.4% |
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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .355 | 75gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing. Winchester 572 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,801 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,066 fps to 1,801 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 39 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 24–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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 UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Somchem MS200 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 75gr | Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot, Ramshot True Blue burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.