Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 230gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot bullet and 24 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% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 833 fps | 91.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 837 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,636 psi | 88% | 850 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 856 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,027 psi | 85% | 863 fps | 94.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,868 psi | 89% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,868 psi | 89% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,230 psi | 86% | 843 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,679 psi | 88% | 748 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,327 psi | 55% | 676 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,520 psi | 88% | 860 fps | 96.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,650 psi | 83% | 820 fps | 98.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,998 psi | 85% | 817 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,282 psi | 49% | 666 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,056 psi | 85% | 883 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,911 psi | 84% | 820 fps | 93.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,592 psi | 88% | 843 fps | 98.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,781 psi | 89% | 866 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,998 psi | 85% | 837 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,592 psi | 88% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,737 psi | 83% | 860 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 860 fps | 94.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,693 psi | 83% | 837 fps | 97.9% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,852 psi | 79% | 797 fps | 89.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,952 psi | 69% | 768 fps | 96.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,097 psi | 69% | 778 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,428 psi | 55% | 719 fps | 86.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 69% | 791 fps | 90.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,040 psi | 80% | 781 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,833 psi | 47% | 669 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 75% | 801 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,302 psi | 81% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,975 psi | 26% | 486 fps | 93.4% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,272 psi | 76% | 814 fps | 94.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,517 psi | 66% | 751 fps | 96.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,966 psi | 63% | 778 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 75% | 781 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,801 psi | 25% | 482 fps | 87.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 61% | 764 fps | 91% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,473 psi | 66% | 741 fps | 89.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 79% | 807 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,721 psi | 78% | 820 fps | 91.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,909 psi | 74% | 787 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,673 psi | 41% | 604 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,054 psi | 75% | 823 fps | 99% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,024 psi | 69% | 778 fps | 91.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,546 psi | 67% | 764 fps | 95.3% |
* 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 4 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .451 | 230gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 846 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 666 fps to 846 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 4 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (130 MPa), the top charges use 49–89 %, leaving at least 11 % 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. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.