Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 115gr | Berry's HBRN-TP bullet and 50 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% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1362 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1394 fps | 91.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1437 fps | 90.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1417 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,230 psi | 48% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,214 psi | 45% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 1460 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1378 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1457 fps | 93% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1381 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1493 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1407 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1329 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. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1191 fps | 97.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 56% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1204 fps | 85.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 69% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,468 psi | 72% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 71% | 1286 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,785 psi | 67% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 14,852 psi | 44% | 1050 fps | 95% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1319 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1191 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 14,170 psi | 42% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,450 psi | 60% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,527 psi | 78% | 1348 fps | 94.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,499 psi | 25% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1224 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,478 psi | 54% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,961 psi | 73% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 1335 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,078 psi | 77% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,035 psi | 24% | 745 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 52% | 1158 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,968 psi | 44% | 1155 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 1115 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,629 psi | 78% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 46% | 1076 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 58% | 1253 fps | 86.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,336 psi | 66% | 1237 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 59% | 1175 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1152 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 1365 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,351 psi | 69% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 13,169 psi | 39% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,988 psi | 65% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 1165 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 45% | 1086 fps | 88.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,218 psi | 56% | 1142 fps | 99.9% |
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 50 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 115gr | Berry's HBRN-TP. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,493 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 997 fps to 1,493 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 50 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 45–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N105 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 .356 | 115gr | Berry's HBRN-TP 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. ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450, Alliant Herco 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.