Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock CN bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Herco, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1273 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1339 fps | 92.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1309 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,025 psi | 41% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1286 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1398 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1388 fps | 93.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1325 fps | 88.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1329 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,802 psi | 76% | 1358 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,658 psi | 78% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1266 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% | 19,928 psi | 58% | 1106 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 51% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 1148 fps | 85.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,440 psi | 75% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 67% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 64% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,028 psi | 53% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 67% | 1198 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,697 psi | 61% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 12,908 psi | 38% | 955 fps | 93.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,885 psi | 61% | 1207 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,802 psi | 76% | 1253 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 51% | 1083 fps | 97.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 72% | 1247 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,006 psi | 79% | 1289 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,672 psi | 20% | 673 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 59% | 1122 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,650 psi | 49% | 1020 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 62% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,728 psi | 70% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,801 psi | 73% | 1237 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,121 psi | 18% | 656 fps | 94.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,432 psi | 45% | 1053 fps | 98% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 79% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,925 psi | 47% | 1145 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,694 psi | 49% | 1030 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,015 psi | 59% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6 gr | 60% | 13,706 psi | 40% | 971 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 57% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,479 psi | 57% | 1198 fps | 87% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 60% | 1142 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,637 psi | 55% | 1086 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,801 psi | 73% | 1266 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,287 psi | 45% | 1047 fps | 89% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1302 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,008 psi | 32% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,941 psi | 53% | 1079 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,358 psi | 39% | 988 fps | 86.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,354 psi | 80% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,042 psi | 50% | 1047 fps | 99.7% |
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 | 125gr | Rim Rock CN. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,398 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 909 fps to 1,398 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 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 38–90 %, 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, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock CN 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.