Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 230gr | Speer TMJ bullet and 27 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% | 16,766 psi | 89% | 830 fps | 91.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,722 psi | 83% | 820 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,186 psi | 86% | 837 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 873 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,505 psi | 82% | 846 fps | 93.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,186 psi | 86% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,404 psi | 87% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,751 psi | 84% | 827 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,549 psi | 88% | 741 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,196 psi | 54% | 669 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,042 psi | 90% | 856 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 843 fps | 96.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,824 psi | 89% | 837 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,215 psi | 86% | 863 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 810 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,181 psi | 49% | 659 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,606 psi | 83% | 866 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,056 psi | 90% | 840 fps | 94.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,984 psi | 90% | 830 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 827 fps | 98.4% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 850 fps | 92.5% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,461 psi | 82% | 820 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,897 psi | 90% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 778 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,127 psi | 80% | 843 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,172 psi | 86% | 843 fps | 94.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,302 psi | 81% | 823 fps | 97.4% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,330 psi | 76% | 778 fps | 88.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,894 psi | 68% | 758 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 67% | 761 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,399 psi | 55% | 712 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,517 psi | 66% | 774 fps | 89.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 79% | 774 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,731 psi | 46% | 663 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 75% | 794 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,171 psi | 80% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,062 psi | 27% | 489 fps | 93.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 81% | 820 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 76% | 807 fps | 94.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,951 psi | 63% | 732 fps | 95.6% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,298 psi | 60% | 758 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,127 psi | 75% | 774 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,670 psi | 25% | 472 fps | 86.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,994 psi | 58% | 748 fps | 89.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,444 psi | 66% | 735 fps | 89% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,273 psi | 81% | 797 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 76% | 791 fps | 97.4% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 78% | 817 fps | 90.9% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,895 psi | 74% | 784 fps | 92.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 82% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,469 psi | 40% | 597 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,474 psi | 71% | 807 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,502 psi | 66% | 761 fps | 90.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,154 psi | 64% | 748 fps | 94.6% |
* 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 | 230gr | Speer TMJ. Alliant Herco delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 873 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 659 fps to 873 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 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. 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.