Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 120gr | LEE Mold 356-120-TC bullet and 56 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% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 93.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,644 psi | 81% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1476 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1404 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1394 fps | 96.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,590 psi | 40% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,644 psi | 81% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1375 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,951 psi | 35% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1483 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,644 psi | 81% | 1355 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1483 fps | 94.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1417 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1444 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,224 psi | 80% | 1457 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,542 psi | 78% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1388 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1348 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% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 1171 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,928 psi | 58% | 1217 fps | 86.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,889 psi | 73% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,018 psi | 70% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 66% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 52% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 69% | 1266 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 60% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 12,038 psi | 35% | 984 fps | 92.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1280 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 59% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,440 psi | 78% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 1138 fps | 97.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 57% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,676 psi | 34% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,613 psi | 72% | 1312 fps | 94.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,656 psi | 17% | 682 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 79% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 60% | 1194 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 1073 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 51% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 55% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,424 psi | 69% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,947 psi | 73% | 1302 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,917 psi | 14% | 653 fps | 90.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,389 psi | 45% | 1109 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,455 psi | 78% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 11.3 gr | 72% | 15,693 psi | 46% | 1188 fps | 87.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 49% | 1093 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 63% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,566 psi | 60% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 76% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.9 gr | 60% | 13,518 psi | 40% | 1024 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 57% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 1257 fps | 87.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1204 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,594 psi | 55% | 1148 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,743 psi | 73% | 1332 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,447 psi | 45% | 1106 fps | 89.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,498 psi | 78% | 1385 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 1388 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 62% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,979 psi | 29% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,767 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,314 psi | 39% | 1040 fps | 87.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 50% | 1102 fps | 99.7% |
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 | 120gr | LEE Mold 356-120-TC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,483 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 945 fps to 1,483 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 19 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 35–90 %, 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 | 120gr | LEE Mold 356-120-TC 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. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.