Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .355 | 95gr | X-TREME X-DEF HP 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 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>> | 72% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1486 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1555 fps | 89.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1532 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1526 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1604 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1532 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1565 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1522 fps | 92.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,982 psi | 44% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1509 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1516 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1519 fps | 98.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,996 psi | 41% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1542 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1621 fps | 93.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1486 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1545 fps | 94.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1614 fps | 90.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1532 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1506 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1552 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1506 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1585 fps | 96.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1506 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% | 19,798 psi | 58% | 1293 fps | 93.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 53% | 1243 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 24,076 psi | 71% | 1447 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 76% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,873 psi | 70% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 68% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,843 psi | 64% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,669 psi | 67% | 1401 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 13,909 psi | 41% | 1135 fps | 91.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 1542 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,918 psi | 76% | 1476 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 53% | 1280 fps | 95.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,358 psi | 39% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,913 psi | 55% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 72% | 1453 fps | 90.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,035 psi | 24% | 827 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,640 psi | 63% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 78% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 1329 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,955 psi | 50% | 1204 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,682 psi | 58% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 70% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 72% | 1444 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 71% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,614 psi | 22% | 814 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 47% | 1247 fps | 95.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,528 psi | 81% | 1401 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1414 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 50% | 1211 fps | 94.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,276 psi | 59% | 1293 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1270 fps | 86.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1302 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,756 psi | 67% | 1473 fps | 85.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 60% | 1339 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1280 fps | 96.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 48% | 1240 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 11,995 psi | 35% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 59% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 53% | 1263 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 46% | 1227 fps | 85.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,767 psi | 52% | 1240 fps | 98.6% |
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 | 95gr | X-TREME X-DEF HP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,621 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,093 fps to 1,621 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 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 41–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 | 95gr | X-TREME X-DEF HP 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. 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.