Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 115gr | H&N HP HS bullet and 54 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 and Alliant Herco.
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% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1358 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1440 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1486 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1404 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,605 psi | 43% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1385 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,271 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1499 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1421 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1493 fps | 93.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1391 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1434 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1427 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,137 psi | 80% | 1470 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,441 psi | 81% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,934 psi | 79% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1398 fps | 97.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1362 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% | 20,059 psi | 59% | 1184 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,669 psi | 64% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 52% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,276 psi | 59% | 1234 fps | 85.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 76% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 71% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,002 psi | 65% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,579 psi | 55% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 68% | 1280 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,184 psi | 39% | 1024 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1302 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 61% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1342 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 52% | 1158 fps | 97.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 59% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 37% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,990 psi | 73% | 1332 fps | 93.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,701 psi | 20% | 719 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,585 psi | 78% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1211 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,172 psi | 50% | 1102 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,767 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,147 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 70% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 74% | 1322 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,396 psi | 19% | 715 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,143 psi | 47% | 1138 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 11 gr | 72% | 16,476 psi | 48% | 1220 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,955 psi | 50% | 1106 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1178 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,107 psi | 77% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.8 gr | 60% | 14,402 psi | 42% | 1053 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1286 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 1224 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,884 psi | 55% | 1165 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,092 psi | 74% | 1352 fps | 85.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 47% | 1125 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,062 psi | 71% | 1401 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,066 psi | 32% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 60% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,043 psi | 53% | 1152 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,779 psi | 40% | 1060 fps | 86.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,564 psi | 52% | 1125 fps | 99.6% |
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 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 115gr | H&N HP HS. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,499 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 981 fps to 1,499 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 39–90 %, 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. Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 115gr | 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. 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.