Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master bullet and 48 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% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1345 fps | 93.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 1371 fps | 92.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,071 psi | 50% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,998 psi | 47% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,311 psi | 80% | 1398 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1312 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1385 fps | 94.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1375 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1375 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1437 fps | 91.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1309 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1345 fps | 98.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 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% | 22,872 psi | 67% | 1181 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 71% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,956 psi | 56% | 1142 fps | 86.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,513 psi | 78% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 74% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 71% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,585 psi | 75% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,741 psi | 64% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,078 psi | 77% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 70% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.9 gr | 60% | 16,012 psi | 47% | 1043 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 1188 fps | 85.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,090 psi | 68% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1168 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 15,418 psi | 45% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,729 psi | 73% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,702 psi | 26% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,831 psi | 73% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 71% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 57% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 66% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,876 psi | 79% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,514 psi | 25% | 735 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 56% | 1148 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,605 psi | 43% | 1093 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 57% | 1102 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,221 psi | 68% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1070 fps | 90.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 67% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 1250 fps | 89.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 70% | 1224 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,770 psi | 64% | 1161 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,657 psi | 75% | 1296 fps | 88% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 56% | 1145 fps | 93.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 20,668 psi | 61% | 1257 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 74% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 13,982 psi | 41% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 70% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,089 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,607 psi | 49% | 1083 fps | 92% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1125 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 48 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 125gr | Sierra Sports Master. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,437 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 968 fps to 1,437 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 10 of the 48 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 47–90 %, 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 | Sierra Sports Master 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. 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.