Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 125gr | 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% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 93.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1362 fps | 91.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1335 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,866 psi | 44% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1319 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,532 psi | 40% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1434 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1306 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1430 fps | 94.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1362 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1388 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1407 fps | 90.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,383 psi | 80% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 98.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1293 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% | 20,030 psi | 59% | 1119 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 54% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,536 psi | 54% | 1132 fps | 85.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,339 psi | 77% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 65% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,843 psi | 67% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,753 psi | 55% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 68% | 1211 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 62% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 13,111 psi | 38% | 971 fps | 94% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 1243 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,571 psi | 78% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 53% | 1112 fps | 98.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,894 psi | 38% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 56% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 75% | 1276 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,759 psi | 20% | 682 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 64% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,217 psi | 53% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,870 psi | 58% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,163 psi | 71% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 74% | 1257 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,076 psi | 71% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,454 psi | 19% | 679 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,201 psi | 48% | 1083 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.8 gr | 68% | 14,663 psi | 43% | 1112 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 49% | 1043 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 61% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,556 psi | 75% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 14,185 psi | 42% | 994 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 60% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,898 psi | 53% | 1165 fps | 85.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1168 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 57% | 1115 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,411 psi | 75% | 1293 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 48% | 1083 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,600 psi | 78% | 1329 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1286 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 34% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 1093 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,938 psi | 41% | 1014 fps | 88.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,724 psi | 52% | 1070 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 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 125gr | H&N HP HS. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,434 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 935 fps to 1,434 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 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 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. Rottweil P 806, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 125gr | 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. 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.