Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 92.6gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ 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% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1568 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1631 fps | 90.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1562 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1450 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1614 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1588 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1631 fps | 87.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1555 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1578 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1621 fps | 94.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1604 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,460 psi | 39% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1535 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1440 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1604 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,154 psi | 36% | 1083 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1696 fps | 94.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1555 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1486 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1529 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1558 fps | 94.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1627 fps | 89.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1545 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1522 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1627 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,034 psi | 73% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,340 psi | 80% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1572 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1601 fps | 96.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1526 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1526 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% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1299 fps | 92.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,795 psi | 49% | 1250 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 25,512 psi | 75% | 1519 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 69% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 61% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 50% | 1253 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1411 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 59% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.4 gr | 60% | 12,270 psi | 36% | 1119 fps | 88.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 25,164 psi | 74% | 1552 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,584 psi | 72% | 1486 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 49% | 1286 fps | 93.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 56% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 6 gr | 60% | 11,835 psi | 35% | 1086 fps | 99.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 59% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 54% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 69% | 1467 fps | 90.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,628 psi | 75% | 1519 fps | 93.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,222 psi | 18% | 794 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 58% | 1339 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,440 psi | 75% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 57% | 1342 fps | 97.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,679 psi | 46% | 1211 fps | 98.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 48% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 68% | 1453 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 64% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,932 psi | 17% | 784 fps | 90.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 43% | 1240 fps | 94.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,367 psi | 74% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1467 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 46% | 1214 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 57% | 1312 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 72% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1273 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1309 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,134 psi | 71% | 1549 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1348 fps | 94.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1280 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,853 psi | 49% | 1299 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 10,124 psi | 30% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,102 psi | 56% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,042 psi | 50% | 1273 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,491 psi | 48% | 1289 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,527 psi | 78% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 48% | 1247 fps | 97.8% |
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 | 92.6gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,696 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,083 fps to 1,696 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 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 36–90 %, 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 | 92.6gr | 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, Hodgdon HS-6 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.