Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 155gr | Rim Rock DEWC 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% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1214 fps | 96.5% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,109 psi | 85% | 961 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,574 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1266 fps | 87.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,108 psi | 82% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 83% | 1234 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,211 psi | 86% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,253 psi | 83% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,456 psi | 81% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,081 psi | 88% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,486 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,398 psi | 80% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,142 psi | 44% | 853 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 1247 fps | 90.5% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1260 fps | 99.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,950 psi | 88% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,515 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1184 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,369 psi | 83% | 1243 fps | 97% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,284 psi | 89% | 1178 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1234 fps | 93.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1178 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1237 fps | 91.3% |
| Vihtavuori N105 | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1309 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,529 psi | 84% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,311 psi | 80% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1214 fps | 99.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,384 psi | 83% | 1115 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% | 22,945 psi | 67% | 1050 fps | 99.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,453 psi | 72% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,972 psi | 62% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,447 psi | 45% | 942 fps | 86.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,179 psi | 77% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,164 psi | 74% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,569 psi | 72% | 968 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,614 psi | 75% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,538 psi | 63% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BLUE DOT* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,267 psi | 80% | 1214 fps | 85.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,397 psi | 77% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,656 psi | 69% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 15,113 psi | 44% | 915 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,059 psi | 59% | 1073 fps | 89.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,293 psi | 68% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,045 psi | 62% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,424 psi | 69% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.1 gr | 60% | 14,939 psi | 44% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,918 psi | 73% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 61% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,673 psi | 23% | 633 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,063 psi | 74% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,192 psi | 71% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,435 psi | 57% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 66% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,178 psi | 71% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,948 psi | 79% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,353 psi | 22% | 636 fps | 99.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 56% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,974 psi | 67% | 1135 fps | 86.1% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,808 psi | 41% | 968 fps | 89.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,261 psi | 57% | 978 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,323 psi | 71% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,453 psi | 69% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,375 psi | 48% | 945 fps | 93.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,148 psi | 68% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,625 psi | 63% | 1125 fps | 93.4% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,221 psi | 71% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,495 psi | 63% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,962 psi | 76% | 1171 fps | 91.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,160 psi | 56% | 1027 fps | 96.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 22,626 psi | 66% | 1125 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1089 fps | 87.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,701 psi | 75% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 12,720 psi | 37% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,989 psi | 70% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,943 psi | 61% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 48% | 968 fps | 94.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 60% | 994 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 | 155gr | Rim Rock DEWC. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,309 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 853 fps to 1,309 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 12 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 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 | 155gr | Rim Rock DEWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant BLUE DOT, 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.