Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .36 | 125gr | Rim Rock SWC?FB bullet and 53 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>> | 72% | 30,618 psi | 90% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,458 psi | 89% | 1224 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,588 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,660 psi | 84% | 1352 fps | 93.2% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1122 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,153 psi | 88% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,646 psi | 87% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,429 psi | 89% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,066 psi | 88% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 92% | 30,139 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,587 psi | 84% | 1391 fps | 92.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,805 psi | 85% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1352 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,095 psi | 85% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,848 psi | 85% | 1234 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 84% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1358 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 15,200 psi | 45% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,659 psi | 81% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1266 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,472 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 83% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1230 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1191 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 64% | 30,008 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,340 psi | 83% | 1243 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 13,851 psi | 41% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,487 psi | 89% | 1355 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,195 psi | 80% | 1404 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1302 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,748 psi | 90% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,733 psi | 87% | 1273 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,269 psi | 86% | 1135 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,964 psi | 85% | 1329 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,008 psi | 85% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,789 psi | 82% | 1391 fps | 93.9% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 72% | 30,719 psi | 90% | 1348 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,647 psi | 90% | 1325 fps | 100% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,472 psi | 89% | 1394 fps | 90.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,603 psi | 90% | 1381 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N105*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,950 psi | 85% | 1444 fps | 91.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,645 psi | 84% | 1220 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1263 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,052 psi | 88% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,718 psi | 87% | 1365 fps | 98.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,674 psi | 84% | 1276 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% | 20,929 psi | 61% | 1148 fps | 97.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,350 psi | 66% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 55% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 100*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1148 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,484 psi | 78% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,685 psi | 72% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,467 psi | 69% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,597 psi | 66% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,975 psi | 70% | 1145 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,479 psi | 57% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,149 psi | 71% | 1237 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,509 psi | 63% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco² | 5.7 gr | 60% | 13,764 psi | 40% | 994 fps | 95% |
| Alliant POWER PISTOL*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,160 psi | 59% | 1207 fps | 86% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,379 psi | 63% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 27,441 psi | 81% | 1299 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,507 psi | 54% | 1125 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 62% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 13,169 psi | 39% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,727 psi | 67% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,464 psi | 57% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,875 psi | 76% | 1289 fps | 95.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,846 psi | 20% | 689 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,220 psi | 65% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,698 psi | 64% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,854 psi | 52% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 1096 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,247 psi | 59% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,872 psi | 64% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,671 psi | 72% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,484 psi | 78% | 1286 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,208 psi | 74% | 1194 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,541 psi | 19% | 686 fps | 96% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 50% | 1106 fps | 99.1% |
| Rottweil P 806*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,722 psi | 46% | 1148 fps | 87.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,666 psi | 52% | 1070 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,307 psi | 65% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,466 psi | 63% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 26,687 psi | 78% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 43% | 1017 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,190 psi | 62% | 1138 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 54% | 1188 fps | 86.7% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,799 psi | 64% | 1188 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 58% | 1129 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem S221*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,887 psi | 67% | 1250 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,839 psi | 49% | 1099 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N105* | <<locked>> | 92% | 23,134 psi | 68% | 1325 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,829 psi | 67% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 11,458 psi | 34% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 63% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,927 psi | 56% | 1119 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,518 psi | 43% | 1037 fps | 89.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1093 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 53 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .36 | 125gr | Rim Rock SWC?FB. Vihtavuori N105 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,444 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 948 fps to 1,444 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 14 of the 53 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 41–90 %, 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 .36 | 125gr | Rim Rock SWC?FB they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ADI AP 100, Alliant POWER PISTOL, SNPE Vectan SP 2 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250, ADI APS 350 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.