Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN 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, 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% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1273 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1335 fps | 92.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1385 fps | 92% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,586 psi | 81% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1309 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,011 psi | 41% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1299 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,763 psi | 37% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,427 psi | 80% | 1394 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1401 fps | 94% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1329 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,411 psi | 77% | 1371 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,600 psi | 78% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1276 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% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1106 fps | 96.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 51% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,711 psi | 58% | 1148 fps | 85.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,411 psi | 75% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,583 psi | 69% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,626 psi | 66% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 63% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 53% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1198 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 61% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,894 psi | 38% | 955 fps | 93.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1207 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 75% | 1250 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1083 fps | 97.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,627 psi | 72% | 1247 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,672 psi | 20% | 673 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,484 psi | 78% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1122 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,621 psi | 49% | 1020 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,172 psi | 50% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 57% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,656 psi | 69% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,714 psi | 73% | 1237 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,106 psi | 18% | 656 fps | 94.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,389 psi | 45% | 1053 fps | 97.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,905 psi | 79% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 9.9 gr | 72% | 15,940 psi | 47% | 1145 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,665 psi | 49% | 1030 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,798 psi | 61% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,943 psi | 59% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 14,098 psi | 41% | 984 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,421 psi | 57% | 1198 fps | 86.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 60% | 1142 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 1086 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,729 psi | 73% | 1266 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 46% | 1056 fps | 89.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 1302 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,248 psi | 62% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,994 psi | 32% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 59% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,898 psi | 53% | 1079 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 13,343 psi | 39% | 988 fps | 86.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 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 55 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,401 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 909 fps to 1,401 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 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 37–90 %, 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, Vihtavuori N350, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 125gr | Rim Rock RN 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.