Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 125gr | Hornady FP XTP bullet and 50 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>> | 68% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1299 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1388 fps | 94.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,036 psi | 82% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1430 fps | 93.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,635 psi | 46% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,272 psi | 42% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1447 fps | 97.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1365 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1444 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1371 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1371 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1417 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,601 psi | 81% | 1430 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1296 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1355 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1299 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% | 21,756 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 69% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,883 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 85.5% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,367 psi | 74% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,410 psi | 72% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 59% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 74% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 67% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 6.1 gr | 60% | 14,417 psi | 42% | 1024 fps | 96% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,089 psi | 62% | 1243 fps | 87.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,406 psi | 57% | 1155 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,982 psi | 41% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,583 psi | 69% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,088 psi | 59% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,411 psi | 22% | 719 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 66% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 58% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 63% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,090 psi | 68% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,063 psi | 76% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,266 psi | 77% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,802 psi | 20% | 705 fps | 96.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 52% | 1135 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,562 psi | 43% | 1115 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 1099 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,050 psi | 79% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,592 psi | 46% | 1053 fps | 89.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 65% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 58% | 1234 fps | 88.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1214 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 1158 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,424 psi | 72% | 1296 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,854 psi | 52% | 1138 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,861 psi | 79% | 1358 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 1309 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,076 psi | 71% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 12,067 psi | 35% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 66% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 1145 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 44% | 1063 fps | 90.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 56% | 1115 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 50 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 125gr | Hornady FP XTP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,447 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 965 fps to 1,447 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 of the 50 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 42–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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 | 125gr | Hornady FP XTP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.