Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 125gr | H&N KS HS LG bullet and 55 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1398 fps | 94.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1385 fps | 92% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1368 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,808 psi | 41% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,615 psi | 81% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,154 psi | 36% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1453 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1329 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1457 fps | 95.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1394 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1391 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1440 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,440 psi | 78% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1362 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1316 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% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1138 fps | 97.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,492 psi | 51% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,086 psi | 53% | 1142 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 71% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 1230 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 66% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 12,299 psi | 36% | 968 fps | 93.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1253 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,266 psi | 77% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,564 psi | 52% | 1122 fps | 98% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 58% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 11,879 psi | 35% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 64% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 55% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,469 psi | 75% | 1296 fps | 95.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,642 psi | 17% | 666 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,233 psi | 59% | 1161 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,694 psi | 49% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,685 psi | 69% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,701 psi | 75% | 1286 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,264 psi | 68% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,149 psi | 15% | 650 fps | 92.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 46% | 1089 fps | 98.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,035 psi | 79% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 10.5 gr | 68% | 13,837 psi | 41% | 1106 fps | 85.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,607 psi | 49% | 1060 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 62% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 60% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,005 psi | 76% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,866 psi | 41% | 1010 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,928 psi | 58% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 50% | 1168 fps | 85.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 1175 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,956 psi | 56% | 1129 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 64% | 1243 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 47% | 1093 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,108 psi | 80% | 1362 fps | 86.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1306 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,066 psi | 30% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 59% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 52% | 1102 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 39% | 1017 fps | 87.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 50% | 1076 fps | 99.8% |
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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 125gr | H&N KS HS LG. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,457 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 925 fps to 1,457 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 of the 55 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 36–90 %, 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, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 125gr | H&N KS HS LG they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 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.