Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 185gr | Speer TMJ-M bullet and 23 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: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,940 psi | 90% | 991 fps | 89.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 98% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 1004 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,737 psi | 83% | 1004 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,041 psi | 85% | 1014 fps | 92.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,708 psi | 89% | 965 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,316 psi | 81% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,172 psi | 86% | 994 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,327 psi | 55% | 801 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,447 psi | 87% | 1010 fps | 95.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,042 psi | 90% | 1001 fps | 98.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,984 psi | 90% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,239 psi | 49% | 784 fps | 96.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,896 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,925 psi | 84% | 968 fps | 91.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,462 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 97.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 1020 fps | 91.5% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,737 psi | 83% | 978 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,346 psi | 87% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,925 psi | 84% | 1017 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 1004 fps | 93% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,708 psi | 83% | 984 fps | 96.7% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 79% | 942 fps | 87.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,126 psi | 70% | 909 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,010 psi | 69% | 912 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,661 psi | 62% | 886 fps | 86.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,850 psi | 68% | 922 fps | 88.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 81% | 928 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,992 psi | 48% | 791 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,489 psi | 77% | 951 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,989 psi | 26% | 574 fps | 91.5% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 78% | 965 fps | 93.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,285 psi | 65% | 879 fps | 94.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,980 psi | 64% | 919 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,620 psi | 78% | 935 fps | 99.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,772 psi | 25% | 564 fps | 85.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,429 psi | 61% | 896 fps | 88.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,749 psi | 68% | 883 fps | 87.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,649 psi | 78% | 945 fps | 96.5% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 80% | 974 fps | 89.7% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 75% | 935 fps | 91.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,934 psi | 42% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 74% | 971 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,024 psi | 69% | 915 fps | 89.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,720 psi | 67% | 906 fps | 93.8% |
* 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 3 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .451 | 185gr | Speer TMJ-M. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 938 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 784 fps to 938 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 3 of the 3 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (130 MPa), the top charges use 49–87 %, leaving at least 13 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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. 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.