Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 90gr | Sierra Sig V-Crown bullet and 55 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>> | 76% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1591 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1644 fps | 89.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1591 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1640 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1608 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,557 psi | 81% | 1581 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1601 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1637 fps | 93.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1621 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,431 psi | 39% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1624 fps | 98.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1637 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1565 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,096 psi | 35% | 1099 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1627 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1703 fps | 93.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1575 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1575 fps | 93.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1552 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1722 fps | 90.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1627 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1598 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1644 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,860 psi | 73% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1594 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1621 fps | 95.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1594 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% | 18,492 psi | 54% | 1319 fps | 92.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 60% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 48% | 1257 fps | 98.2% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 25,121 psi | 74% | 1535 fps | 85.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,032 psi | 68% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 1273 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1434 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.4 gr | 60% | 11,908 psi | 35% | 1125 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,174 psi | 56% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 72% | 1509 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 48% | 1293 fps | 93% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 6 gr | 60% | 11,458 psi | 34% | 1093 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 68% | 1483 fps | 89.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1532 fps | 92.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,280 psi | 18% | 814 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 58% | 1365 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,411 psi | 75% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 1348 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,635 psi | 46% | 1230 fps | 97.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 46% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,452 psi | 66% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,032 psi | 68% | 1473 fps | 95.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 1552 fps | 93.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,758 psi | 17% | 787 fps | 89.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,576 psi | 43% | 1257 fps | 93.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,222 psi | 74% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1473 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 46% | 1234 fps | 92.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 56% | 1319 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,347 psi | 54% | 1335 fps | 86.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 54% | 1319 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,656 psi | 69% | 1562 fps | 85.7% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 56% | 1365 fps | 94.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,463 psi | 51% | 1302 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,607 psi | 49% | 1316 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 58% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 10,138 psi | 30% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,463 psi | 54% | 1352 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,462 psi | 48% | 1280 fps | 93.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,940 psi | 47% | 1289 fps | 85.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,382 psi | 77% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 47% | 1250 fps | 97.1% |
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 | 90gr | Sierra Sig V-Crown. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,722 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,099 fps to 1,722 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 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 35–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AP 100, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 | 90gr | Sierra Sig V-Crown they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Hodgdon HS-6, Rottweil P 806 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.