Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 115gr | Berry's Round Nose bullet and 51 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>> | 68% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 1319 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1407 fps | 92.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 91.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1417 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,186 psi | 47% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1404 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,142 psi | 44% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1470 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1385 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1453 fps | 93% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1348 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1391 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1493 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 98.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,877 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% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 1204 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 58% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 1204 fps | 85.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,541 psi | 75% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,221 psi | 71% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,090 psi | 68% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,410 psi | 72% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,044 psi | 59% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,845 psi | 73% | 1299 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 14,794 psi | 43% | 1050 fps | 94.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 23,119 psi | 68% | 1319 fps | 87% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,973 psi | 64% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 58% | 1191 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 14,533 psi | 43% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 60% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,484 psi | 78% | 1345 fps | 94.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,499 psi | 25% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 69% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,902 psi | 67% | 1237 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 54% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 59% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,248 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,872 psi | 67% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,469 psi | 78% | 1332 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,005 psi | 76% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,021 psi | 24% | 745 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,535 psi | 51% | 1158 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,924 psi | 44% | 1152 fps | 85.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1129 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 78% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 46% | 1076 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 58% | 1253 fps | 86.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1237 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,697 psi | 61% | 1188 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,506 psi | 51% | 1152 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,786 psi | 70% | 1378 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 13,169 psi | 39% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 66% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,015 psi | 59% | 1178 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,229 psi | 45% | 1086 fps | 88.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 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 51 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 115gr | Berry's Round Nose. 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 12 of the 51 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 44–90 %, 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 Round Nose 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.