Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 148gr | Rim Rock SWC 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% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,152 psi | 83% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1227 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,370 psi | 86% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,457 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,863 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1214 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1260 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,354 psi | 80% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,462 psi | 48% | 873 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,153 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,485 psi | 84% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,095 psi | 88% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,573 psi | 87% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,127 psi | 44% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1217 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1266 fps | 89.3% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1329 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1201 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 84% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,151 psi | 80% | 1257 fps | 95.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1198 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1181 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 1257 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1247 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,775 psi | 81% | 1243 fps | 89.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1325 fps | 94.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,543 psi | 81% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1227 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1175 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% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1076 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,801 psi | 70% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,305 psi | 60% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,737 psi | 49% | 994 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,643 psi | 75% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,598 psi | 72% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,759 psi | 76% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,871 psi | 61% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 77% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,018 psi | 68% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 14,634 psi | 43% | 925 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 57% | 1083 fps | 88.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,698 psi | 67% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 60% | 1056 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 67% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 14,446 psi | 42% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,134 psi | 71% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,349 psi | 60% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,455 psi | 22% | 643 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 71% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 69% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 55% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 61% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 64% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,525 psi | 69% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,295 psi | 77% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,006 psi | 79% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,136 psi | 21% | 646 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 54% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,918 psi | 73% | 1201 fps | 86.7% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,402 psi | 39% | 981 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 1004 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,627 psi | 69% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,785 psi | 67% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,273 psi | 48% | 968 fps | 92.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 66% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,711 psi | 61% | 1132 fps | 91.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,453 psi | 69% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,509 psi | 63% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,556 psi | 75% | 1191 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 1040 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1142 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,246 psi | 54% | 1106 fps | 85.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,874 psi | 73% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4 gr | 60% | 12,792 psi | 38% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,119 psi | 68% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 1037 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,809 psi | 46% | 978 fps | 93.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 1010 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 .358 | 148gr | Rim Rock SWC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,329 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 873 fps to 1,329 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 44–90 %, 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 .358 | 148gr | Rim Rock SWC 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.