Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 148gr | CamPro HBWC 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1348 fps | 89% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1270 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1332 fps | 87.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1296 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,635 psi | 46% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1348 fps | 89% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,687 psi | 78% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,938 psi | 41% | 886 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,977 psi | 79% | 1204 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1316 fps | 90.8% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,572 psi | 81% | 1316 fps | 99.1% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1348 fps | 89% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,470 psi | 81% | 1296 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1299 fps | 94% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1299 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1378 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,774 psi | 79% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,731 psi | 81% | 1168 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% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1106 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate No. 7*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1273 fps | 86.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,337 psi | 71% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,707 psi | 43% | 974 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,875 psi | 76% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,382 psi | 74% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 69% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,976 psi | 73% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,818 psi | 79% | 1270 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,455 psi | 78% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,119 psi | 68% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 6 gr | 60% | 14,431 psi | 42% | 955 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 56% | 1109 fps | 89.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 66% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,885 psi | 58% | 1079 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 67% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.6 gr | 60% | 14,083 psi | 41% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,743 psi | 73% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 60% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,585 psi | 19% | 646 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 70% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D037.1*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1273 fps | 86.2% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 55% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 65% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 70% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,890 psi | 79% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,063 psi | 18% | 640 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 55% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,742 psi | 67% | 1191 fps | 86.2% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,705 psi | 37% | 991 fps | 87.8% |
| Shooters World Major Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,252 psi | 77% | 1273 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,145 psi | 56% | 1030 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,206 psi | 68% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,041 psi | 47% | 994 fps | 93% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,610 psi | 60% | 1165 fps | 92.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 69% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 62% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,280 psi | 74% | 1224 fps | 91.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,188 psi | 53% | 1066 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1175 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,101 psi | 53% | 1135 fps | 87% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,019 psi | 73% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 11,676 psi | 34% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,656 psi | 69% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 60% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 46% | 1004 fps | 94.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1037 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 | 148gr | CamPro HBWC. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,378 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 886 fps to 1,378 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 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 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 | 148gr | CamPro HBWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 7, Alliant BLUE DOT, Lovex D037.1 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.