Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 110gr | Norma HP bullet and 53 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.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1427 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1460 fps | 91.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1496 fps | 90.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1467 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1444 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1473 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,142 psi | 44% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,354 psi | 80% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1391 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1453 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,735 psi | 40% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1470 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1578 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1394 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1503 fps | 92.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1506 fps | 89.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1499 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1545 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1437 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1470 fps | 98% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1388 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% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1247 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 66% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,060 psi | 62% | 1299 fps | 86.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,803 psi | 79% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,642 psi | 72% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 70% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,772 psi | 70% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 57% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 71% | 1345 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 6.3 gr | 60% | 13,489 psi | 40% | 1070 fps | 93.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,611 psi | 66% | 1368 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 62% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,789 psi | 79% | 1401 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,536 psi | 54% | 1224 fps | 97.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,740 psi | 61% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,421 psi | 57% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,179 psi | 77% | 1407 fps | 94.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,933 psi | 20% | 755 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,321 psi | 65% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1273 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 52% | 1155 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 54% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,102 psi | 59% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,843 psi | 64% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 73% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 1394 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 71% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,599 psi | 19% | 751 fps | 94.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 49% | 1198 fps | 98.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,374 psi | 45% | 1220 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,695 psi | 52% | 1165 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,060 psi | 65% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 62% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,947 psi | 76% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 43% | 1102 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 1352 fps | 87.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,292 psi | 62% | 1280 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1227 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,339 psi | 77% | 1427 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,665 psi | 49% | 1188 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1483 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 11,473 psi | 34% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 63% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,768 psi | 55% | 1211 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 42% | 1112 fps | 87% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 1181 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 53 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 110gr | Norma HP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,578 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,030 fps to 1,578 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 of the 53 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .357 | 110gr | Norma HP 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. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon Clays 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.