Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 121gr | Hornady HAP bullet and 53 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% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1345 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1375 fps | 92.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1411 fps | 91.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,026 psi | 44% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,677 psi | 40% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1493 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1352 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1414 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1358 fps | 97.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1467 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1388 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1302 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% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 1165 fps | 97.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 54% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,884 psi | 55% | 1171 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,731 psi | 78% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,685 psi | 69% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 56% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1257 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,532 psi | 40% | 1007 fps | 94.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1283 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,586 psi | 81% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 55% | 1155 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 12,995 psi | 38% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 67% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1325 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,889 psi | 20% | 705 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 1191 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 52% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 54% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 59% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,596 psi | 63% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 72% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,426 psi | 78% | 1312 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,700 psi | 72% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,585 psi | 19% | 705 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,636 psi | 49% | 1122 fps | 98.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,432 psi | 45% | 1161 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1086 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 64% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,411 psi | 77% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 43% | 1040 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 54% | 1207 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 63% | 1204 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1158 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1280 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,897 psi | 50% | 1125 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,640 psi | 66% | 1339 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 11,400 psi | 33% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,565 psi | 54% | 1132 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 42% | 1047 fps | 88.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1106 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 53 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 121gr | Hornady HAP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,493 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 965 fps to 1,493 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 40–90 %, 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 | 121gr | Hornady HAP 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 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.