Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 145gr | 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 Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol and Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star.
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% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 95.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1260 fps | 93.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,127 psi | 44% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,866 psi | 41% | 850 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1263 fps | 88.1% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1257 fps | 95.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1253 fps | 91.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,746 psi | 81% | 1204 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1276 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 99.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1145 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% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 1033 fps | 98.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,100 psi | 50% | 997 fps | 85.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,006 psi | 79% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,497 psi | 72% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 65% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 71% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 71% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 65% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.9 gr | 60% | 13,590 psi | 40% | 896 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 1086 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,333 psi | 54% | 1010 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 13,242 psi | 39% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 57% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,715 psi | 75% | 1165 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,860 psi | 20% | 620 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,277 psi | 62% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 51% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 59% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 64% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,222 psi | 74% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,150 psi | 77% | 1152 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,614 psi | 19% | 620 fps | 97.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,491 psi | 48% | 988 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 25,744 psi | 76% | 1204 fps | 85.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,140 psi | 39% | 978 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 51% | 961 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,915 psi | 64% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 62% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,600 psi | 78% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 43% | 919 fps | 89.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,710 psi | 55% | 1083 fps | 88.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1070 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,609 psi | 58% | 1014 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1138 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 49% | 991 fps | 92.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 24,758 psi | 73% | 1181 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,305 psi | 60% | 1145 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 68% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.6 gr | 60% | 11,719 psi | 34% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,014 psi | 56% | 1007 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 42% | 935 fps | 90.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,130 psi | 53% | 978 fps | 100% |
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 | 145gr | H&N HP HS. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,329 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 846 fps to 1,329 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 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 41–90 %, 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, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .356 | 145gr | H&N HP HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant POWER PISTOL, ReloadSwiss RS 24, Somchem S221 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.