Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 200gr | X-TREME SWC bullet and 21 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 889 fps | 89% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 899 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,042 psi | 90% | 912 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 919 fps | 92.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 925 fps | 92.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,635 psi | 83% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 906 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,502 psi | 61% | 738 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,940 psi | 90% | 922 fps | 95% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,085 psi | 85% | 879 fps | 97.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,809 psi | 84% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,476 psi | 87% | 883 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,747 psi | 57% | 735 fps | 97.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,201 psi | 86% | 938 fps | 94.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,128 psi | 86% | 876 fps | 91.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,013 psi | 90% | 906 fps | 97.7% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,462 psi | 87% | 896 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,201 psi | 86% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 922 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,969 psi | 90% | 919 fps | 92.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,288 psi | 86% | 899 fps | 96.6% |
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% | 15,214 psi | 81% | 853 fps | 87.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,576 psi | 72% | 827 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 73% | 840 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,531 psi | 61% | 781 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,924 psi | 74% | 856 fps | 89.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,877 psi | 52% | 732 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,968 psi | 79% | 863 fps | 96.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.6 gr | 60% | 6,541 psi | 35% | 551 fps | 95.5% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 82% | 886 fps | 93.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 70% | 810 fps | 95.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 68% | 846 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 79% | 843 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,295 psi | 33% | 541 fps | 90.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,111 psi | 64% | 823 fps | 88.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,082 psi | 69% | 797 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 82% | 869 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,576 psi | 77% | 850 fps | 91.2% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 9,108 psi | 48% | 669 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,518 psi | 77% | 886 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,663 psi | 72% | 837 fps | 89.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,460 psi | 71% | 827 fps | 94.1% |
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 3 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .451 | 200gr | X-TREME SWC. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 840 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 735 fps to 840 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 57–86 %, leaving at least 14 % 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .45 ACP with the .451 | 200gr | X-TREME SWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.