Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .356 | 147gr | Rim Rock FP bullet and 54 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% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 95% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1224 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1191 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,823 psi | 43% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,590 psi | 40% | 830 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1286 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1158 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1286 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1224 fps | 91.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1240 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1263 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1152 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% | 20,102 psi | 59% | 997 fps | 98.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,825 psi | 52% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,723 psi | 49% | 971 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,107 psi | 77% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,019 psi | 73% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,902 psi | 67% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,264 psi | 68% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 61% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 13,445 psi | 39% | 876 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,305 psi | 57% | 1060 fps | 86.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,929 psi | 61% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,614 psi | 78% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 53% | 991 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,131 psi | 59% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 13,024 psi | 38% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,599 psi | 75% | 1142 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,802 psi | 20% | 607 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 64% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 50% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 52% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,914 psi | 58% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,701 psi | 75% | 1129 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 71% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,541 psi | 19% | 610 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,346 psi | 48% | 968 fps | 99.4% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 7.9 gr | 64% | 12,575 psi | 37% | 948 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 51% | 942 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 62% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,339 psi | 77% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 43% | 902 fps | 89% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,276 psi | 59% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 52% | 1043 fps | 87.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1040 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 994 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 66% | 1106 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,099 psi | 47% | 965 fps | 92.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 24,236 psi | 71% | 1152 fps | 85.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1155 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,284 psi | 33% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,697 psi | 61% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,246 psi | 54% | 978 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,837 psi | 41% | 906 fps | 89.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,492 psi | 51% | 948 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 | 147gr | Rim Rock FP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,286 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 827 fps to 1,286 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 17 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 40–90 %, 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 | 147gr | Rim Rock FP 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.