Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 158gr | LOS FP bullet and 50 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% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 94.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,622 psi | 52% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,621 psi | 49% | 833 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1191 fps | 89.5% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1214 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 961 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 96.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1132 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1175 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1152 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1063 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% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1010 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 71% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,277 psi | 62% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,708 psi | 46% | 899 fps | 85.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,947 psi | 76% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,367 psi | 74% | 902 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,250 psi | 71% | 919 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,788 psi | 76% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,731 psi | 78% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,728 psi | 70% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 16,128 psi | 47% | 889 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 1017 fps | 88.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 70% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,263 psi | 62% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,685 psi | 69% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 15,693 psi | 46% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,947 psi | 73% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,324 psi | 77% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,079 psi | 27% | 627 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,468 psi | 72% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 58% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,451 psi | 63% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 66% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,091 psi | 71% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,556 psi | 78% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,543 psi | 25% | 623 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 57% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 25,599 psi | 75% | 1132 fps | 87.2% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 44% | 951 fps | 90.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 942 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,323 psi | 71% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,438 psi | 69% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 50% | 915 fps | 93.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,061 psi | 68% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,886 psi | 64% | 1079 fps | 92.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,004 psi | 70% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,205 psi | 65% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,831 psi | 76% | 1115 fps | 90.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 988 fps | 96.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,047 psi | 68% | 1083 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1040 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,918 psi | 76% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 14,112 psi | 41% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,917 psi | 70% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 62% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,998 psi | 50% | 935 fps | 94.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,958 psi | 61% | 958 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 50 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .357 | 158gr | LOS FP. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,237 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 823 fps to 1,237 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 of the 50 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 | LOS FP 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.