Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC bullet and 56 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% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1230 fps | 95% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 94.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,151 psi | 80% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1211 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,285 psi | 39% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,777 psi | 35% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1296 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1289 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 91.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1250 fps | 89.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,919 psi | 79% | 1273 fps | 92.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,977 psi | 79% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,397 psi | 77% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1204 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1161 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% | 19,522 psi | 57% | 1004 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,509 psi | 63% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,869 psi | 52% | 1017 fps | 86.9% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,860 psi | 73% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 71% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 62% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 67% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 59% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.9 gr | 60% | 12,299 psi | 36% | 869 fps | 94.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 1066 fps | 86.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,962 psi | 76% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,129 psi | 50% | 988 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,551 psi | 57% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,589 psi | 34% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,782 psi | 55% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,961 psi | 73% | 1148 fps | 96.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,569 psi | 16% | 591 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 61% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 77% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 48% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 49% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,377 psi | 57% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 69% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,642 psi | 72% | 1125 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,134 psi | 15% | 581 fps | 93.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 46% | 968 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 8.8 gr | 68% | 13,373 psi | 39% | 991 fps | 87.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,752 psi | 49% | 945 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,436 psi | 60% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 74% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,663 psi | 40% | 896 fps | 88.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 57% | 994 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 49% | 1043 fps | 87.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 1040 fps | 99.1% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,637 psi | 55% | 997 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1102 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 46% | 968 fps | 91.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 1152 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 1161 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,834 psi | 29% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,841 psi | 58% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 51% | 978 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 912 fps | 89.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 50% | 958 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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .356 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,296 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 814 fps to 1,296 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 35–90 %, 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 | 147gr | LEE Mold 356-147-TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221, Vihtavuori 3N38 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.