Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT 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% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1188 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 915 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,500 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1227 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,994 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,476 psi | 45% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,122 psi | 80% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,228 psi | 42% | 817 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1227 fps | 90.1% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1240 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1158 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 96.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,007 psi | 82% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1168 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1204 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1283 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,760 psi | 81% | 1148 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,602 psi | 87% | 1102 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% | 21,567 psi | 63% | 997 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,322 psi | 68% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 57% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,708 psi | 46% | 922 fps | 85.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,570 psi | 75% | 889 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,931 psi | 70% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 68% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,555 psi | 72% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,816 psi | 73% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 66% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 14,011 psi | 41% | 866 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,159 psi | 53% | 1004 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,609 psi | 58% | 988 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,669 psi | 64% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 13,619 psi | 40% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,266 psi | 21% | 604 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,496 psi | 69% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 67% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 68% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,614 psi | 75% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,194 psi | 77% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,991 psi | 21% | 607 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 52% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,801 psi | 70% | 1119 fps | 85.9% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,285 psi | 36% | 909 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 938 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 68% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,379 psi | 66% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,818 psi | 79% | 935 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,592 psi | 46% | 902 fps | 91.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 58% | 1060 fps | 91.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,495 psi | 66% | 1033 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,160 psi | 59% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,352 psi | 71% | 1112 fps | 89.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 51% | 965 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1112 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,305 psi | 57% | 1076 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,641 psi | 69% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 11,966 psi | 35% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,365 psi | 66% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 58% | 974 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 44% | 909 fps | 92.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 55% | 942 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 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,283 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 810 fps to 1,283 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 | 157gr | Geco SOFTPOINT 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.