Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold 358-158-RF 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>> | 68% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,124 psi | 88% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,863 psi | 88% | 1207 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,501 psi | 89% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,821 psi | 90% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,963 psi | 82% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,166 psi | 83% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,298 psi | 89% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,226 psi | 89% | 1247 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,892 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,501 psi | 87% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,823 psi | 43% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,167 psi | 86% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,514 psi | 84% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,732 psi | 84% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,906 psi | 85% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,227 psi | 39% | 817 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,819 psi | 85% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,589 psi | 90% | 1250 fps | 91.1% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,311 psi | 83% | 1253 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,820 psi | 87% | 1175 fps | 99.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1243 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,688 psi | 81% | 1188 fps | 92.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,254 psi | 86% | 1188 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1227 fps | 91.5% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,485 psi | 81% | 1250 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1112 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% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 1020 fps | 99.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 69% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 56% | 951 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,374 psi | 45% | 932 fps | 86.1% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,717 psi | 81% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,106 psi | 74% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 71% | 915 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,162 psi | 65% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 58% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,454 psi | 75% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,133 psi | 65% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 13,561 psi | 40% | 876 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 52% | 1017 fps | 87.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,596 psi | 63% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,826 psi | 55% | 994 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 63% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 12,966 psi | 38% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,424 psi | 69% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,309 psi | 19% | 597 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,655 psi | 66% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,115 psi | 53% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 55% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,730 psi | 75% | 965 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 74% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,511 psi | 16% | 577 fps | 96.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,260 psi | 51% | 971 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,192 psi | 71% | 1145 fps | 87% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,298 psi | 33% | 896 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,246 psi | 54% | 948 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,756 psi | 67% | 994 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,944 psi | 64% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,064 psi | 79% | 951 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,794 psi | 43% | 902 fps | 91.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 62% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,043 psi | 56% | 1063 fps | 91.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,394 psi | 66% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,262 psi | 59% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 70% | 1122 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 50% | 974 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,682 psi | 61% | 1076 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,782 psi | 55% | 1086 fps | 87.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 69% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.8 gr | 60% | 11,356 psi | 33% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 64% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,014 psi | 56% | 981 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 43% | 922 fps | 93.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 955 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 | 158gr | LEE Mold 358-158-RF. 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 12 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 39–90 %, 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 | 158gr | LEE Mold 358-158-RF 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.