Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 200gr | Speer TMJ-M bullet and 29 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% | 16,230 psi | 86% | 906 fps | 89.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 915 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,882 psi | 84% | 922 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,491 psi | 87% | 958 fps | 93.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,940 psi | 90% | 971 fps | 93.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,114 psi | 85% | 886 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,940 psi | 85% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,708 psi | 89% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,635 psi | 83% | 915 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,993 psi | 53% | 738 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 942 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,853 psi | 84% | 932 fps | 94.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 919 fps | 98.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,157 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,403 psi | 82% | 889 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 906 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,949 psi | 47% | 725 fps | 96.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,229 psi | 81% | 948 fps | 94.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,839 psi | 89% | 925 fps | 92.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,868 psi | 89% | 919 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,201 psi | 86% | 919 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,070 psi | 85% | 935 fps | 90.9% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,056 psi | 90% | 945 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 925 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 15,505 psi | 82% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,185 psi | 81% | 935 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,940 psi | 85% | 928 fps | 92.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 945 fps | 97.5% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,141 psi | 75% | 856 fps | 86.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,473 psi | 66% | 830 fps | 95% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,763 psi | 68% | 846 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,153 psi | 59% | 814 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,415 psi | 66% | 850 fps | 88.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,475 psi | 77% | 853 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,485 psi | 45% | 722 fps | 96.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,547 psi | 77% | 889 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 73% | 873 fps | 95.9% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,750 psi | 78% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,975 psi | 26% | 535 fps | 91.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 80% | 906 fps | 97.9% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,895 psi | 74% | 886 fps | 92.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,053 psi | 64% | 814 fps | 94.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,298 psi | 60% | 840 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 73% | 853 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 80% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 4,931 psi | 26% | 541 fps | 86.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,805 psi | 57% | 817 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,357 psi | 66% | 810 fps | 87.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 79% | 873 fps | 95.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,214 psi | 75% | 873 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 76% | 889 fps | 88.8% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,706 psi | 73% | 863 fps | 91% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 80% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,324 psi | 39% | 656 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,169 psi | 70% | 886 fps | 97.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,299 psi | 65% | 837 fps | 88.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,198 psi | 65% | 830 fps | 93.4% |
* 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 5 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .451 | 200gr | Speer TMJ-M. Alliant Herco delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 958 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 725 fps to 958 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 5 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (130 MPa), the top charges use 47–87 %, 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. As outliers, Alliant Herco burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.