Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .38-45 ACP with .36 | 80gr | Rim Rock DEWC bullet and 57 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 20, SNPE Vectan A0 and Maxam CSB 1.
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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,543 psi | 84% | 1647 fps | 96.5% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,080 psi | 85% | 1716 fps | 88.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,935 psi | 85% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 85% | 1650 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,514 psi | 81% | 1640 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,631 psi | 87% | 1460 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 30,110 psi | 88% | 1506 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,705 psi | 90% | 1581 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,907 psi | 88% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,806 psi | 90% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,934 psi | 82% | 1686 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,197 psi | 89% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1709 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,399 psi | 86% | 1585 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,037 psi | 85% | 1709 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,558 psi | 84% | 1709 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,762 psi | 87% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,544 psi | 87% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,834 psi | 88% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,356 psi | 86% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,499 psi | 81% | 1667 fps | 90% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 30,632 psi | 90% | 1739 fps | 93.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,096 psi | 35% | 1148 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,181 psi | 83% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1716 fps | 88.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,414 psi | 86% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,456 psi | 83% | 1670 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,979 psi | 88% | 1663 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,471 psi | 84% | 1660 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1608 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,763 psi | 90% | 1631 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,022 psi | 85% | 1545 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,891 psi | 82% | 1677 fps | 96.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,239 psi | 83% | 1683 fps | 92.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,079 psi | 82% | 1634 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,863 psi | 32% | 1122 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,341 psi | 86% | 1736 fps | 99.8% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,312 psi | 86% | 1611 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,616 psi | 84% | 1795 fps | 91.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,124 psi | 85% | 1716 fps | 88.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1683 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,051 psi | 85% | 1624 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,601 psi | 84% | 1483 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,834 psi | 85% | 1680 fps | 92.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,530 psi | 87% | 1667 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,835 psi | 90% | 1824 fps | 88.6% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,847 psi | 82% | 1670 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,545 psi | 90% | 1709 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 88% | 30,560 psi | 90% | 1755 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,138 psi | 85% | 1617 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,105 psi | 68% | 1421 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,630 psi | 81% | 1654 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,168 psi | 89% | 1703 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,877 psi | 85% | 1716 fps | 93.7% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,238 psi | 80% | 1604 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,747 psi | 84% | 1654 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. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,289 psi | 51% | 1358 fps | 89% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,237 psi | 74% | 1624 fps | 85.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,203 psi | 56% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 44% | 1299 fps | 96% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1512 fps | 99.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,031 psi | 65% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,407 psi | 60% | 1319 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,087 psi | 56% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,580 psi | 57% | 1398 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,664 psi | 46% | 1316 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 59% | 1483 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,260 psi | 54% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,256 psi | 36% | 1207 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,014 psi | 53% | 1339 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,263 psi | 65% | 1542 fps | 95.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 44% | 1325 fps | 89.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,303 psi | 51% | 1332 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,530 psi | 31% | 1125 fps | 97.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,376 psi | 54% | 1385 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,114 psi | 50% | 1240 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,352 psi | 71% | 1594 fps | 87.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 69% | 1575 fps | 89.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,656 psi | 17% | 823 fps | 91.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,347 psi | 54% | 1411 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1627 fps | 85.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,235 psi | 68% | 1496 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,216 psi | 51% | 1388 fps | 94.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | 6 gr | 60% | 14,141 psi | 41% | 1257 fps | 95.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,388 psi | 42% | 1309 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 49% | 1335 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 54% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 60% | 1375 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,408 psi | 63% | 1516 fps | 93% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,439 psi | 72% | 1591 fps | 90.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,363 psi | 57% | 1447 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,395 psi | 16% | 810 fps | 85.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 6.8 gr | 60% | 13,039 psi | 38% | 1273 fps | 89.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,409 psi | 69% | 1499 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 22,075 psi | 65% | 1634 fps | 86.2% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,193 psi | 74% | 1627 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | 6.5 gr | 60% | 14,330 psi | 42% | 1257 fps | 88.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,550 psi | 54% | 1381 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,767 psi | 52% | 1365 fps | 96.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,989 psi | 67% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 21,205 psi | 62% | 1493 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,071 psi | 50% | 1362 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,180 psi | 80% | 1742 fps | 86.1% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,448 psi | 51% | 1394 fps | 90.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,302 psi | 48% | 1342 fps | 92.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,334 psi | 57% | 1473 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,449 psi | 54% | 1388 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,326 psi | 27% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 49% | 1394 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 45% | 1316 fps | 90.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,652 psi | 55% | 1453 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 71% | 1539 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 43% | 1289 fps | 94.5% |
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 57 powders for .38-45 ACP loaded with the .36 | 80gr | Rim Rock DEWC. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,824 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,122 fps to 1,824 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (235 MPa), the top charges use 32–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. ReloadSwiss RS 20, SNPE Vectan A0, Maxam CSB 1 rank at the top here: for .38-45 ACP with the .36 | 80gr | Rim Rock DEWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.