Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .357 | 160gr | Speer JSP SWC 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1165 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,920 psi | 82% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,949 psi | 82% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1204 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,983 psi | 47% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,777 psi | 90% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,141 psi | 41% | 804 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,137 psi | 83% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1220 fps | 90.6% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,703 psi | 84% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 955 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1217 fps | 97.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1148 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1148 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1188 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1263 fps | 95.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 82% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1171 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 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% | 21,524 psi | 63% | 981 fps | 99.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,163 psi | 68% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,189 psi | 56% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,766 psi | 46% | 912 fps | 86% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,266 psi | 74% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 72% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 67% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,410 psi | 72% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,801 psi | 73% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,350 psi | 66% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 14,460 psi | 42% | 866 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,289 psi | 54% | 994 fps | 87.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,408 psi | 66% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 974 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,596 psi | 63% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 13,547 psi | 40% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,482 psi | 69% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,001 psi | 59% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,455 psi | 22% | 604 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,843 psi | 67% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 54% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,493 psi | 57% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,335 psi | 63% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 67% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,425 psi | 75% | 932 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,165 psi | 77% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,817 psi | 20% | 591 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,782 psi | 52% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,163 psi | 71% | 1112 fps | 86.3% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,459 psi | 37% | 902 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,623 psi | 55% | 925 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,279 psi | 68% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,408 psi | 66% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,658 psi | 78% | 919 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 46% | 892 fps | 92% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,683 psi | 64% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 57% | 1037 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,568 psi | 66% | 1020 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,131 psi | 59% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,033 psi | 71% | 1089 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 951 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,293 psi | 68% | 1093 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,058 psi | 56% | 1060 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 69% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 12,343 psi | 36% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,379 psi | 66% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,638 psi | 58% | 961 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,997 psi | 44% | 896 fps | 93.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,739 psi | 55% | 928 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 | 160gr | Speer JSP SWC. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,263 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 804 fps to 1,263 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 41–90 %, 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 | 160gr | Speer JSP SWC 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.