Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-2R bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco and SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2.
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% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1276 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1355 fps | 92.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1404 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,977 psi | 79% | 1316 fps | 95.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,865 psi | 38% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,298 psi | 33% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1457 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1332 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,804 psi | 82% | 1401 fps | 93.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1309 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,774 psi | 79% | 1332 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1335 fps | 97.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,440 psi | 75% | 1375 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,077 psi | 74% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,818 psi | 82% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1286 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% | 19,058 psi | 56% | 1109 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,476 psi | 48% | 1047 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,913 psi | 55% | 1152 fps | 85.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 70% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 69% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,408 psi | 66% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 59% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,422 psi | 63% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,824 psi | 49% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1204 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,682 psi | 58% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 11,618 psi | 34% | 942 fps | 91.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,059 psi | 59% | 1211 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 57% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,860 psi | 73% | 1257 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 47% | 1076 fps | 96.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 55% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,081 psi | 33% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,699 psi | 70% | 1250 fps | 93.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,049 psi | 76% | 1296 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,366 psi | 16% | 650 fps | 96.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 57% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,788 psi | 76% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,392 psi | 57% | 1135 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,722 psi | 46% | 1024 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,824 psi | 46% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,043 psi | 53% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1247 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 63% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,656 psi | 14% | 620 fps | 89.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 44% | 1063 fps | 97.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,295 psi | 74% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,446 psi | 42% | 1125 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,838 psi | 46% | 1033 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 59% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1096 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,918 psi | 73% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.7 gr | 64% | 14,707 psi | 43% | 1024 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 54% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,246 psi | 54% | 1191 fps | 85.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1138 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 52% | 1089 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 1260 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,475 psi | 42% | 1047 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 1306 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,320 psi | 60% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,427 psi | 28% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 56% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 49% | 1076 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 6.2 gr | 60% | 12,691 psi | 37% | 991 fps | 86% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,992 psi | 79% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,780 psi | 46% | 1040 fps | 99.3% |
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 57 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-2R. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,457 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 899 fps to 1,457 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 33–90 %, 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. Vihtavuori N350, Alliant Herco, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-2R 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 No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.