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.45 Auto (ACP) Load Data

Alternative names: .45 ACP, .45 Auto, 11.43×23mm, 11mm Colt

Our load data for caliber .45 Auto (ACP) covers 112 bullets from 16 manufacturers and a total of 7056 load recipes. In addition, our members have shared 40 load recipes.

The .45 Auto (ACP), also known as the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol, is a popular centerfire handgun cartridge that was developed by John Browning in the early 20th century. It was designed to be used in the Colt M1911 pistol, which was adopted by the US military as its standard-issue sidearm from 1911 to 1986.The .45 ACP cartridge has a bullet diameter of .451 inches (11.5 mm) and a case length of .898 inches (22.8 mm). It is a powerful cartridge that has a reputation for its stopping power, with a typical muzzle velocity of around 850 to 1000 feet per second (260 to 305 m/s) and a muzzle energy of around 350 to 550 foot-pounds (475 to 750 J).The .45 ACP is widely used by law enforcement and military personnel, as well as civilian shooters for self-defense and target shooting. It is also used in various firearms platforms, including semi-automatic pistols, revolvers, and submachine guns. Despite the introduction of newer cartridges with higher velocity and energy, the .45 ACP remains a popular and respected cartridge among firearms enthusiasts.

Suitable Powders

Bullet Weight (gr) ->
0-50
50-75
75-100
100-150
150-200
200-300
>300

👍 ... suitable powder 

👍👍 ... suitable AND popular powder among our reloading community  (clasification might evolve as more community members share their loads )

Caliber Specifications

Standard / Datasheet

Primer Size

Large Pistol (LP)

Max. Case Length

25 Grains of Water

Bullet / Barrel Diameter

0.451'' | 11.46 mm

Max. Case Length

0.898'' | 22.81 mm

Max. Cartridge Length 

1.275'' | 32.39 mm

Max. Standardized Pressure:

18855 psi | 1300 bar

XXL ID

CID_724

.45 Auto (ACP) load data is available with the following bullets:

(most popular first)

Filter by Bullet Weight (Grains)

Weight vs. Velocity - Suitable Bullets for this Caliber

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Barrel Length  Variation vs. Velocity - by Bullet Weight

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