Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-TC bullet and 58 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, Vihtavuori N350 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% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1270 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 92.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1398 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,818 psi | 79% | 1309 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1365 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,053 psi | 38% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,369 psi | 80% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,008 psi | 32% | 889 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1453 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,601 psi | 81% | 1394 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1302 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1401 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,311 psi | 80% | 1329 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1411 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,714 psi | 73% | 1355 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,729 psi | 73% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,412 psi | 80% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1362 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1270 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% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 1099 fps | 96.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,595 psi | 60% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,737 psi | 49% | 1050 fps | 99.9% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,724 psi | 55% | 1148 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 67% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,320 psi | 60% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,085 psi | 50% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 64% | 1194 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 56% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,356 psi | 33% | 932 fps | 91.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 22,814 psi | 67% | 1273 fps | 87.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1263 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 48% | 1083 fps | 96.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 56% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,255 psi | 33% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 59% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1247 fps | 93.6% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,846 psi | 76% | 1289 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,410 psi | 16% | 650 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,174 psi | 56% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,367 psi | 74% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 56% | 1125 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,389 psi | 45% | 1014 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,070 psi | 47% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 54% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 66% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,859 psi | 70% | 1240 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,685 psi | 14% | 620 fps | 89.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,649 psi | 43% | 1053 fps | 97.4% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,860 psi | 73% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10.2 gr | 72% | 14,330 psi | 42% | 1119 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 46% | 1020 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,262 psi | 59% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 57% | 1099 fps | 99.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.6 gr | 64% | 14,475 psi | 42% | 1017 fps | 86.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 55% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1184 fps | 85.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 1129 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,245 psi | 51% | 1079 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,672 psi | 78% | 1329 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 42% | 1037 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,137 psi | 80% | 1348 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 1302 fps | 85.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,653 psi | 61% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,544 psi | 28% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 48% | 1066 fps | 97.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 12,473 psi | 37% | 981 fps | 85.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,629 psi | 78% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,012 psi | 47% | 1047 fps | 99.4% |
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 58 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-TC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,453 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 889 fps to 1,453 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 22 of the 58 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 32–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori 3N38 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, Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 124gr | LEE Mold 356-124-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 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.