Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 158gr | Speer JHP 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% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,269 psi | 89% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1234 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1158 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,882 psi | 47% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,240 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,591 psi | 43% | 823 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,383 psi | 80% | 1181 fps | 88.7% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,327 psi | 89% | 1243 fps | 97.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,905 psi | 82% | 1171 fps | 92.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1171 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 91.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,528 psi | 81% | 1234 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,094 psi | 82% | 1152 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1106 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% | 21,988 psi | 65% | 1004 fps | 99.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 70% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 58% | 945 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,983 psi | 47% | 928 fps | 86.3% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,208 psi | 77% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,482 psi | 72% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,786 psi | 70% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,092 psi | 74% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,117 psi | 59% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,338 psi | 74% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,032 psi | 68% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.9 gr | 60% | 14,301 psi | 42% | 873 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,463 psi | 54% | 1010 fps | 87.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,307 psi | 65% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,044 psi | 59% | 997 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,191 psi | 65% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 14,011 psi | 41% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,569 psi | 69% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,600 psi | 78% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,208 psi | 21% | 600 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,308 psi | 68% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,161 psi | 62% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,237 psi | 77% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,731 psi | 78% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,933 psi | 20% | 604 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,217 psi | 53% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,656 psi | 72% | 1135 fps | 86.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 38% | 925 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 932 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,872 psi | 67% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 65% | 981 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,340 psi | 80% | 942 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 47% | 909 fps | 92.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,147 psi | 65% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,131 psi | 59% | 1066 fps | 91.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,581 psi | 60% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,555 psi | 72% | 1115 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,593 psi | 52% | 971 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,277 psi | 62% | 1070 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 1033 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,236 psi | 71% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.6 gr | 60% | 12,386 psi | 36% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,902 psi | 67% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,044 psi | 59% | 981 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,302 psi | 45% | 915 fps | 93.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 56% | 948 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 | Speer JHP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,253 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 817 fps to 1,253 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 43–90 %, 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 | Speer JHP 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.