Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 125gr | X-TREME FP bullet and 50 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1273 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 94.1% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1306 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1411 fps | 93.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,340 psi | 80% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,013 psi | 50% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,954 psi | 47% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1322 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1444 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 98.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1430 fps | 95.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,428 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1352 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1352 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1398 fps | 88.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1417 fps | 91.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,731 psi | 81% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1332 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1286 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1165 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 69% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,131 psi | 59% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 18,594 psi | 55% | 1125 fps | 85.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 75% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,366 psi | 71% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 71% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,527 psi | 75% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,469 psi | 75% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 70% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,577 psi | 46% | 1027 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 57% | 1171 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,003 psi | 67% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1161 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 66% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 44% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 72% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,847 psi | 26% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,163 psi | 71% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,813 psi | 61% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,727 psi | 64% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,264 psi | 68% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,991 psi | 76% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,369 psi | 25% | 725 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1132 fps | 99.7% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 42% | 1083 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 56% | 1089 fps | 98.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,598 psi | 69% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,742 psi | 67% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,679 psi | 49% | 1056 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 67% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 62% | 1237 fps | 89.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,482 psi | 69% | 1207 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,176 psi | 62% | 1145 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,483 psi | 75% | 1286 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 1132 fps | 93.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,383 psi | 80% | 1342 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1296 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 72% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 1138 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,201 psi | 48% | 1066 fps | 91.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,146 psi | 59% | 1112 fps | 100% |
* 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 | X-TREME FP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,444 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 965 fps to 1,444 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 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. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, Somchem S221 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.