Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 80gr | Barnes TAC-XP bullet and 53 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 Maxam CSB 2.
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. 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1657 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1476 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1709 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1660 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1719 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1722 fps | 98.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1572 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1575 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1706 fps | 91% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1686 fps | 92.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,154 psi | 36% | 1132 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1680 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1670 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1594 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1693 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1706 fps | 93.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1657 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,052 psi | 32% | 1112 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1699 fps | 99.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1821 fps | 91.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1644 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1627 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1680 fps | 92.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1621 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1686 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1670 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1699 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1578 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1677 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1663 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1726 fps | 93.9% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1637 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1660 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>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 1306 fps | 87.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,405 psi | 54% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,620 psi | 43% | 1263 fps | 95.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1473 fps | 99.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 59% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 57% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 44% | 1280 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1430 fps | 93.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 52% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,547 psi | 40% | 1240 fps | 87% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,709 psi | 52% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 65% | 1516 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 14,910 psi | 44% | 1299 fps | 88.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 49% | 1296 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,341 psi | 30% | 1099 fps | 96.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,796 psi | 52% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 23,090 psi | 68% | 1535 fps | 85.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 1529 fps | 87.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,063 psi | 18% | 827 fps | 92.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1365 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,785 psi | 67% | 1463 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 48% | 1342 fps | 93.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 41% | 1237 fps | 94.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,967 psi | 41% | 1280 fps | 98.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 47% | 1299 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 52% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,131 psi | 59% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1473 fps | 91.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 69% | 1545 fps | 88.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 56% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,671 psi | 17% | 804 fps | 86.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 12,865 psi | 38% | 1243 fps | 88.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 66% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,192 psi | 68% | 1654 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,054 psi | 41% | 1227 fps | 87.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,825 psi | 52% | 1342 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 50% | 1322 fps | 95.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 1450 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 49% | 1329 fps | 96.6% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,897 psi | 50% | 1352 fps | 89.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,592 psi | 46% | 1296 fps | 90.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1493 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 52% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,239 psi | 27% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,998 psi | 47% | 1348 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,620 psi | 43% | 1273 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1470 fps | 86.4% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,351 psi | 69% | 1499 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 42% | 1257 fps | 93.6% |
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 | 80gr | Barnes TAC-XP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,821 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,112 fps to 1,821 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 33 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 32–90 %, 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, Maxam CSB 2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .355 | 80gr | Barnes TAC-XP 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.