Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 150gr | Nosler Partition bullet and 51 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% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 95.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,065 psi | 82% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1260 fps | 95% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,660 psi | 87% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,534 psi | 46% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,272 psi | 42% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,182 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 89.7% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1283 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1204 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1273 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1207 fps | 91.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 90.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1319 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,761 psi | 84% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,586 psi | 81% | 1181 fps | 99.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1138 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% | 21,364 psi | 63% | 1027 fps | 99.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 69% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 57% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,911 psi | 47% | 955 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,962 psi | 76% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,395 psi | 69% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,540 psi | 72% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,189 psi | 59% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,642 psi | 72% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,582 psi | 66% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 14,431 psi | 42% | 902 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 54% | 1040 fps | 87% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,017 psi | 65% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 57% | 1020 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,654 psi | 64% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 13,648 psi | 40% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,351 psi | 69% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 60% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,208 psi | 21% | 623 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,351 psi | 69% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,539 psi | 66% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,508 psi | 57% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,744 psi | 76% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,918 psi | 76% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,918 psi | 20% | 627 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 52% | 994 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,018 psi | 70% | 1158 fps | 85.5% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,531 psi | 37% | 942 fps | 86.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 968 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,934 psi | 79% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,389 psi | 45% | 925 fps | 91% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,582 psi | 63% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 58% | 1093 fps | 90.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 1063 fps | 99.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 1138 fps | 89.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,477 psi | 51% | 1001 fps | 94.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,728 psi | 70% | 1152 fps | 86.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,898 psi | 55% | 1099 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 12,198 psi | 36% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 1001 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 45% | 945 fps | 92.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 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 51 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 150gr | Nosler Partition. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,319 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 840 fps to 1,319 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 of the 51 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 | 150gr | Nosler Partition they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ReloadSwiss RS 24, Somchem S221, Vihtavuori 3N38 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.