Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 230gr | Nosler FMJ bullet and 18 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, Hodgdon TrailBoss and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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 Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,635 psi | 83% | 837 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,867 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,708 psi | 89% | 892 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 896 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,998 psi | 85% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,834 psi | 57% | 699 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,085 psi | 85% | 840 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,273 psi | 86% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,805 psi | 52% | 689 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,737 psi | 89% | 912 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 853 fps | 94.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,288 psi | 86% | 856 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 909 fps | 88.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 15,925 psi | 84% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 889 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,331 psi | 81% | 846 fps | 94.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,563 psi | 88% | 899 fps | 88.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 873 fps | 98.9% |
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 Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,518 psi | 72% | 791 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 74% | 807 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,095 psi | 54% | 719 fps | 87% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,489 psi | 72% | 814 fps | 92.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,631 psi | 51% | 699 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.7 gr | 60% | 5,250 psi | 28% | 505 fps | 94.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 69% | 774 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,589 psi | 67% | 804 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.8 gr | 60% | 5,033 psi | 27% | 502 fps | 89.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,748 psi | 62% | 787 fps | 92.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,300 psi | 71% | 774 fps | 91.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,823 psi | 79% | 823 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,026 psi | 80% | 866 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.7 gr | 60% | 8,325 psi | 44% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 80% | 856 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,880 psi | 74% | 814 fps | 93% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,765 psi | 78% | 856 fps | 86.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 70% | 794 fps | 96.5% |
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 | 230gr | Nosler FMJ. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 791 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 689 fps to 791 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 52–84 %, leaving at least 16 % 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, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .45 ACP with the .451 | 230gr | Nosler FMJ 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.