Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 147gr | H&N KS HS bullet and 54 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% | 26,963 psi | 79% | 1125 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1224 fps | 95% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1250 fps | 94% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1224 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,069 psi | 44% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,050 psi | 82% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,837 psi | 41% | 843 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1266 fps | 88.9% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,528 psi | 81% | 1276 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 98.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1260 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,890 psi | 79% | 1201 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1198 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1234 fps | 88.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1309 fps | 93.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,586 psi | 81% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,427 psi | 80% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1220 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1145 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% | 20,856 psi | 61% | 1027 fps | 98.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 55% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,550 psi | 51% | 1004 fps | 86.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,890 psi | 79% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 74% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,598 psi | 69% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 67% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 70% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,682 psi | 58% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,062 psi | 71% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,988 psi | 65% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5 gr | 60% | 14,040 psi | 41% | 902 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 53% | 1037 fps | 86% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,350 psi | 63% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,971 psi | 56% | 1017 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 13,227 psi | 39% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,931 psi | 67% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,986 psi | 59% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,310 psi | 77% | 1168 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,208 psi | 21% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,771 psi | 67% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 53% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,884 psi | 55% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,914 psi | 61% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 74% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,745 psi | 78% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,251 psi | 74% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,614 psi | 19% | 617 fps | 97.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 50% | 994 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,281 psi | 77% | 1207 fps | 86.6% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,547 psi | 40% | 984 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,057 psi | 53% | 965 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 66% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,683 psi | 64% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,368 psi | 77% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,026 psi | 44% | 925 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 62% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,724 psi | 55% | 1079 fps | 89.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,669 psi | 64% | 1063 fps | 99.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 59% | 1017 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,656 psi | 69% | 1142 fps | 88.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 50% | 997 fps | 93.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 25,280 psi | 74% | 1184 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,784 psi | 61% | 1152 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.6 gr | 60% | 11,719 psi | 34% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,956 psi | 56% | 1001 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 44% | 942 fps | 91.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,637 psi | 55% | 981 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 54 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 147gr | H&N KS HS. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,309 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 840 fps to 1,309 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 41–90 %, 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 | 147gr | H&N KS HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant POWER PISTOL, ReloadSwiss RS 24, Somchem S221 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.