Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 158gr | Fiocchi SJSP 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% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1168 fps | 96% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,921 psi | 88% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1207 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,195 psi | 83% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,037 psi | 88% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,477 psi | 51% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,925 psi | 47% | 817 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 88.4% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 955 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1106 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,644 psi | 81% | 1178 fps | 96% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,559 psi | 87% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1158 fps | 92.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,356 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 90.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1224 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1089 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% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 991 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,888 psi | 70% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,378 psi | 60% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,693 psi | 46% | 896 fps | 85.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,686 psi | 75% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,628 psi | 75% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,817 psi | 76% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,540 psi | 69% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 15,519 psi | 46% | 869 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 1014 fps | 88.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,540 psi | 69% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,103 psi | 62% | 988 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 67% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 15,011 psi | 44% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 66% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,847 psi | 26% | 617 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,077 psi | 74% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 72% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,234 psi | 62% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,423 psi | 66% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 70% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,281 psi | 77% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,354 psi | 25% | 614 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,131 psi | 56% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 25,295 psi | 74% | 1119 fps | 86.6% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,475 psi | 42% | 938 fps | 89.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 935 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 69% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,713 psi | 67% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 919 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,520 psi | 48% | 896 fps | 92.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,306 psi | 63% | 1060 fps | 92.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,989 psi | 70% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 63% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,440 psi | 75% | 1102 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 971 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1056 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1027 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 73% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.4 gr | 60% | 13,895 psi | 41% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,815 psi | 70% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,987 psi | 62% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 48% | 915 fps | 94% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,291 psi | 60% | 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 | 158gr | Fiocchi SJSP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,247 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 817 fps to 1,247 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 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 47–90 %, 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 | 158gr | Fiocchi SJSP 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.