Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 146gr | Speer JHP bullet and 56 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% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1201 fps | 94.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1240 fps | 93.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1217 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,910 psi | 44% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,122 psi | 80% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,663 psi | 40% | 840 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1247 fps | 87.8% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1306 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,630 psi | 81% | 1250 fps | 95.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 91.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1263 fps | 89.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1286 fps | 92.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,441 psi | 81% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1125 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% | 20,798 psi | 61% | 1020 fps | 98.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 64% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,579 psi | 55% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,549 psi | 49% | 978 fps | 85.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,876 psi | 79% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,135 psi | 74% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,453 psi | 69% | 928 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 66% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,830 psi | 70% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 56% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,989 psi | 70% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,814 psi | 64% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 13,460 psi | 39% | 886 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 1076 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,267 psi | 80% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 53% | 1001 fps | 98.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 13,068 psi | 38% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 58% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,860 psi | 76% | 1158 fps | 96.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,991 psi | 21% | 620 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,857 psi | 64% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,630 psi | 81% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,143 psi | 50% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,957 psi | 59% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,918 psi | 73% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,165 psi | 77% | 1145 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,221 psi | 71% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,411 psi | 19% | 607 fps | 96.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,331 psi | 48% | 974 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 25,324 psi | 74% | 1184 fps | 85.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,155 psi | 39% | 971 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 51% | 948 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 77% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 43% | 909 fps | 89% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 1063 fps | 88.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 1047 fps | 99.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 1001 fps | 99.7% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,684 psi | 67% | 1119 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,505 psi | 48% | 981 fps | 92.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 24,323 psi | 71% | 1165 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 19,914 psi | 58% | 1125 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,785 psi | 67% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 11,473 psi | 34% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 55% | 997 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,272 psi | 42% | 925 fps | 90.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 53% | 968 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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 146gr | Speer JHP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,306 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 837 fps to 1,306 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 16 of the 56 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 | 146gr | 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 No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.