Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP bullet and 52 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% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1293 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1385 fps | 94.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1427 fps | 93.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,867 psi | 47% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,446 psi | 42% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 87.8% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1434 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1362 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1430 fps | 95% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,673 psi | 81% | 1358 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1358 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1401 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1480 fps | 93% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1339 fps | 98.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1296 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% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1171 fps | 98.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 57% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,767 psi | 52% | 1129 fps | 85.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,802 psi | 76% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 71% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,843 psi | 67% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 73% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 59% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 73% | 1260 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,379 psi | 66% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 6 gr | 60% | 14,243 psi | 42% | 1017 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 1237 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 1148 fps | 98.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 64% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.6 gr | 60% | 13,764 psi | 40% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 69% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 60% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,194 psi | 21% | 709 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,292 psi | 65% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 53% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,450 psi | 57% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,771 psi | 67% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,340 psi | 80% | 1309 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,976 psi | 76% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,860 psi | 20% | 705 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 52% | 1129 fps | 99.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,890 psi | 79% | 1362 fps | 85.4% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,460 psi | 42% | 1112 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 53% | 1093 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,800 psi | 67% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,930 psi | 64% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,701 psi | 78% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,447 psi | 45% | 1047 fps | 89% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,843 psi | 64% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 1227 fps | 88.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 65% | 1207 fps | 99.2% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 1148 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 1280 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 52% | 1132 fps | 92.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,266 psi | 77% | 1345 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1293 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,728 psi | 70% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 12,241 psi | 36% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 65% | 1184 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 1138 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 44% | 1056 fps | 90.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 1109 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 52 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 125gr | Speer JHP. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,480 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 968 fps to 1,480 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 52 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 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 | 125gr | Speer JHP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, ReloadSwiss RS 24 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.