Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .25 ACP with .251 | 50gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ bullet and 16 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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: 2.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000* | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,389 psi | 88% | 725 fps | 90.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,518 psi | 78% | 653 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,518 psi | 78% | 669 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI AS 30* | <<locked>> | 80% | 13,561 psi | 78% | 699 fps | 94% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 13,648 psi | 78% | 705 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot* | <<locked>> | 80% | 13,445 psi | 77% | 705 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT* | <<locked>> | 80% | 13,111 psi | 75% | 705 fps | 92.6% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,476 psi | 89% | 705 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 4* | <<locked>> | 88% | 15,577 psi | 90% | 755 fps | 91% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,966 psi | 75% | 702 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12* | <<locked>> | 92% | 15,200 psi | 87% | 820 fps | 91.9% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,374 psi | 88% | 797 fps | 95% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,503 psi | 78% | 669 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,373 psi | 83% | 735 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320* | <<locked>> | 88% | 15,519 psi | 89% | 778 fps | 91% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,760 psi | 45% | 584 fps | 87.2% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 2.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1000*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 12,763 psi | 73% | 669 fps | 86.7% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,518 psi | 78% | 653 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,834 psi | 62% | 610 fps | 96.1% |
| ADI AS 30*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,007 psi | 52% | 581 fps | 86.8% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 13,648 psi | 78% | 705 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 13,445 psi | 77% | 705 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant RED DOT*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 10,733 psi | 62% | 643 fps | 89% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,211 psi | 59% | 594 fps | 95% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,908 psi | 74% | 699 fps | 87.5% |
| Maxam CSB 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,470 psi | 49% | 581 fps | 88.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12* | <<locked>> | 84% | 12,821 psi | 74% | 764 fps | 88.6% |
| Rottweil P 801*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,905 psi | 51% | 640 fps | 85.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,503 psi | 78% | 669 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,414 psi | 66% | 673 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N320* | <<locked>> | 80% | 12,908 psi | 74% | 719 fps | 87.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star* | <<locked>> | 92% | 7,760 psi | 45% | 584 fps | 87.2% |
* 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 16 powders for .25 ACP loaded with the .251 | 50gr | Sellier & Bellot FMJ. ReloadSwiss RS 12 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 820 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 584 fps to 820 fps. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 10 of the 16 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (120 MPa), the top charges use 45–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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. As outliers, Accurate Solo 1000, ADI AS 30, ADI AS 50N burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1000, ADI APS 350, ADI APS 450 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.