Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 125gr | Rim Rock TC Cowboy bullet and 52 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>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1365 fps | 93.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,342 psi | 89% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,805 psi | 87% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1404 fps | 92.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1253 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1371 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,389 psi | 45% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,210 psi | 83% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1293 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1280 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1247 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,054 psi | 41% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1358 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1414 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,676 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1289 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1345 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1407 fps | 94.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,734 psi | 90% | 1329 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,151 psi | 80% | 1339 fps | 88.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1335 fps | 98.2% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,327 psi | 86% | 1453 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,644 psi | 81% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1335 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1378 fps | 99.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1280 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% | 21,118 psi | 62% | 1155 fps | 98.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 66% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 55% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 19,464 psi | 57% | 1165 fps | 86.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1257 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,034 psi | 73% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 67% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,207 psi | 71% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,624 psi | 58% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,323 psi | 71% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 64% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.8 gr | 60% | 13,880 psi | 41% | 1001 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,233 psi | 59% | 1214 fps | 86.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,712 psi | 64% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 55% | 1132 fps | 98.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 62% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 13,387 psi | 39% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 67% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,783 psi | 58% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,382 psi | 77% | 1306 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,049 psi | 21% | 702 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 64% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 53% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,869 psi | 55% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,479 psi | 60% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,932 psi | 73% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,469 psi | 78% | 1289 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,382 psi | 74% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,730 psi | 20% | 699 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,187 psi | 50% | 1115 fps | 99.2% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,663 psi | 40% | 1086 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,811 psi | 52% | 1076 fps | 98% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,437 psi | 66% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,567 psi | 63% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,919 psi | 79% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,171 psi | 45% | 1033 fps | 88.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 63% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,043 psi | 56% | 1204 fps | 87.5% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,901 psi | 64% | 1194 fps | 99% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 58% | 1135 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 69% | 1263 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,926 psi | 50% | 1106 fps | 91.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,842 psi | 61% | 1276 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,076 psi | 68% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 11,719 psi | 34% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,058 psi | 56% | 1122 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 43% | 1043 fps | 89.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 1096 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 52 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .358 | 125gr | Rim Rock TC Cowboy. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,453 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 955 fps to 1,453 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 13 of the 52 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 .358 | 125gr | Rim Rock TC Cowboy they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, SNPE Vectan SP 2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.