Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 102gr | LEE Mold 356-102-1R bullet and 55 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% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1467 fps | 99% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1526 fps | 90.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,833 psi | 82% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1532 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1575 fps | 89.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1509 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1526 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,238 psi | 80% | 1493 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1555 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,053 psi | 38% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1503 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1430 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,296 psi | 80% | 1483 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1434 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,385 psi | 33% | 1024 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1555 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1644 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,528 psi | 81% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1516 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1585 fps | 91.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1496 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1519 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1555 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1460 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% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1260 fps | 94.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,726 psi | 61% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 1191 fps | 99.3% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 1417 fps | 87.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 70% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,495 psi | 63% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,060 psi | 65% | 1368 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.4 gr | 60% | 11,385 psi | 33% | 1053 fps | 88.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1447 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1440 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,186 psi | 47% | 1224 fps | 94.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 6 gr | 60% | 11,110 psi | 33% | 1024 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 59% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,144 psi | 53% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 1411 fps | 91.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,194 psi | 77% | 1473 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,395 psi | 16% | 738 fps | 94.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,208 psi | 77% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1280 fps | 98.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,679 psi | 46% | 1168 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 46% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 53% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1411 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,843 psi | 64% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,685 psi | 14% | 702 fps | 86.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 43% | 1198 fps | 95.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,425 psi | 75% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,056 psi | 50% | 1332 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,911 psi | 47% | 1175 fps | 94.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 57% | 1257 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,563 psi | 49% | 1217 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 54% | 1247 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,321 psi | 63% | 1424 fps | 86.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1286 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1237 fps | 96.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,402 psi | 42% | 1178 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 59% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,485 psi | 28% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,855 psi | 55% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,607 psi | 49% | 1217 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 7.8 gr | 64% | 14,112 psi | 41% | 1168 fps | 85.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,137 psi | 80% | 1414 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,838 psi | 46% | 1184 fps | 98.4% |
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 .356 | 102gr | LEE Mold 356-102-1R. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,644 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,024 fps to 1,644 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 21 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 33–90 %, 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 102gr | LEE Mold 356-102-1R 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 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.