Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold C358-158-SWC bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco and Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol.
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% | 30,661 psi | 90% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,586 psi | 81% | 1152 fps | 95% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,182 psi | 86% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,400 psi | 89% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,921 psi | 85% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,021 psi | 82% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,689 psi | 87% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,601 psi | 81% | 1188 fps | 94.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,385 psi | 89% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,297 psi | 83% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,862 psi | 82% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1165 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,924 psi | 41% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,211 psi | 89% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1070 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,878 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,892 psi | 85% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,371 psi | 89% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,357 psi | 36% | 791 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,992 psi | 82% | 1188 fps | 88.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,792 psi | 90% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1253 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,196 psi | 86% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1168 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,516 psi | 90% | 1247 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,704 psi | 87% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,849 psi | 88% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,790 psi | 84% | 1184 fps | 92.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,023 psi | 88% | 1178 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 96% | 30,255 psi | 89% | 1217 fps | 90.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,268 psi | 83% | 1243 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,442 psi | 83% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,021 psi | 79% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,747 psi | 87% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,617 psi | 87% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1158 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 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% | 20,624 psi | 61% | 981 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,437 psi | 63% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,072 psi | 53% | 922 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,244 psi | 48% | 938 fps | 86.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,367 psi | 74% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,758 psi | 73% | 876 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,177 psi | 68% | 886 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,785 psi | 64% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 54% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,902 psi | 70% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 62% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.7 gr | 60% | 12,459 psi | 37% | 833 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,462 psi | 48% | 968 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,175 psi | 59% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,513 psi | 78% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 951 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,465 psi | 60% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 12,212 psi | 36% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,553 psi | 63% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 57% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,324 psi | 74% | 1106 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,700 psi | 17% | 568 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,002 psi | 62% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,639 psi | 61% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 49% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 52% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 57% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,031 psi | 62% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,497 psi | 72% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,483 psi | 75% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,366 psi | 69% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,265 psi | 15% | 561 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,853 psi | 47% | 932 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 24,976 psi | 73% | 1138 fps | 86.7% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,716 psi | 78% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | 8 gr | 64% | 11,908 psi | 35% | 909 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,940 psi | 50% | 906 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,596 psi | 63% | 961 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,769 psi | 61% | 961 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,150 psi | 77% | 922 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,996 psi | 41% | 866 fps | 89.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 58% | 951 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 52% | 1017 fps | 89.2% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 60% | 1001 fps | 99.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,884 psi | 55% | 955 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,756 psi | 64% | 1066 fps | 87.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,027 psi | 47% | 938 fps | 93.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 88% | 23,960 psi | 70% | 1119 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 88% | 19,377 psi | 57% | 1079 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 65% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,225 psi | 30% | 702 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,218 psi | 59% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,680 psi | 52% | 938 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,735 psi | 40% | 883 fps | 91.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,361 psi | 51% | 922 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 56 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold C358-158-SWC. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,253 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 791 fps to 1,253 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 18 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 36–90 %, 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. Rottweil P 806, Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .358 | 158gr | LEE Mold C358-158-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.