Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .358 | 158gr | Rim Rock FP?TC 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% | 27,702 psi | 81% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1181 fps | 96% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,385 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,936 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,978 psi | 82% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,123 psi | 83% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,530 psi | 90% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1220 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,776 psi | 87% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,690 psi | 90% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,791 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,066 psi | 85% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1181 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,766 psi | 46% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,413 psi | 83% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,225 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,326 psi | 83% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 83% | 974 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,631 psi | 84% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,489 psi | 43% | 817 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1129 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24* | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,240 psi | 89% | 1220 fps | 90.1% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1237 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,282 psi | 83% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,718 psi | 84% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,443 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,414 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,675 psi | 87% | 1152 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1217 fps | 96.8% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,689 psi | 84% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1161 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 1161 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,298 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N105ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,965 psi | 88% | 1263 fps | 95.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,313 psi | 89% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,979 psi | 85% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1083 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,355 psi | 83% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,630 psi | 81% | 1138 fps | 99.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,443 psi | 86% | 1093 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% | 22,060 psi | 65% | 1001 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,872 psi | 67% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 58% | 942 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,070 psi | 47% | 925 fps | 86.1% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,005 psi | 73% | 876 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,395 psi | 72% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,713 psi | 67% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,105 psi | 71% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,131 psi | 59% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,353 psi | 74% | 1073 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 65% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 14,257 psi | 42% | 866 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,985 psi | 53% | 994 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 65% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,290 psi | 57% | 978 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,118 psi | 65% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 13,895 psi | 41% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,119 psi | 68% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,754 psi | 58% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,832 psi | 79% | 1122 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,368 psi | 22% | 604 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 1001 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,481 psi | 66% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,130 psi | 53% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,189 psi | 56% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,074 psi | 62% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,092 psi | 74% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,817 psi | 76% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,759 psi | 20% | 594 fps | 98.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,492 psi | 51% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 24*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 23,757 psi | 70% | 1112 fps | 85.8% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,212 psi | 36% | 902 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 54% | 928 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,960 psi | 67% | 974 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 65% | 978 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,325 psi | 80% | 935 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 45% | 892 fps | 91.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,393 psi | 63% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1050 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 65% | 1024 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 60% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,265 psi | 71% | 1102 fps | 89.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 52% | 965 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N38* | <<locked>> | 84% | 23,511 psi | 69% | 1106 fps | 86.7% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,666 psi | 55% | 1056 fps | 86.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 12,169 psi | 36% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,046 psi | 65% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,319 psi | 57% | 961 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 45% | 912 fps | 93.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 942 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 | Rim Rock FP?TC. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,263 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 810 fps to 1,263 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 43–90 %, 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 | 158gr | Rim Rock FP?TC 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.