Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 100gr | H&N HP HS bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 26,977 psi | 79% | 1447 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1578 fps | 91.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1490 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1549 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1522 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1572 fps | 88.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1506 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1522 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1568 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1545 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,415 psi | 36% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,253 psi | 80% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1542 fps | 99.4% |
| Ramshot True Blue² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1562 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1480 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,805 psi | 32% | 1014 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1627 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1503 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1503 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,948 psi | 79% | 1568 fps | 90.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1542 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1568 fps | 97% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1512 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1519 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1545 fps | 96.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1457 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 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% | 18,202 psi | 53% | 1250 fps | 93.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 58% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 47% | 1194 fps | 99% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1404 fps | 85.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 68% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 57% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 48% | 1198 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 1362 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 11,211 psi | 33% | 1056 fps | 88% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,700 psi | 72% | 1496 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 55% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,497 psi | 72% | 1434 fps | 99% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,476 psi | 45% | 1211 fps | 93.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 10,907 psi | 32% | 1027 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,927 psi | 53% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 67% | 1411 fps | 90.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 74% | 1460 fps | 94.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,178 psi | 15% | 732 fps | 93.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 55% | 1276 fps | 99.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,382 psi | 74% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 53% | 1270 fps | 97.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,997 psi | 44% | 1155 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,345 psi | 45% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,390 psi | 51% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 68% | 1404 fps | 97.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 1476 fps | 94.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 61% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,482 psi | 13% | 696 fps | 85.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,083 psi | 41% | 1188 fps | 94.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,511 psi | 72% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1388 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,287 psi | 45% | 1165 fps | 93.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 57% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1250 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 72% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,099 psi | 47% | 1211 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 54% | 1253 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,380 psi | 69% | 1490 fps | 87.6% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1280 fps | 94.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,882 psi | 50% | 1227 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,925 psi | 47% | 1234 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 59% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,210 psi | 27% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,043 psi | 53% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,940 psi | 47% | 1207 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 8.1 gr | 68% | 15,635 psi | 46% | 1224 fps | 86.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,715 psi | 75% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 45% | 1178 fps | 97.7% |
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 .356 | 100gr | H&N HP HS. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,627 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,014 fps to 1,627 fps. ADI AP 100 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 23 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 32–90 %, 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 100gr | H&N HP HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, SNPE Vectan SP 2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays 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.