Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 250gr | Rim Rock RNFP Top Shelf bullet and 21 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 Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 804 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,911 psi | 90% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,969 psi | 85% | 817 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,737 psi | 89% | 830 fps | 95.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,534 psi | 82% | 778 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,447 psi | 87% | 801 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,559 psi | 56% | 643 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 817 fps | 97.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 774 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,867 psi | 84% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,462 psi | 87% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,529 psi | 51% | 636 fps | 98.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,360 psi | 87% | 840 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 778 fps | 94.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,998 psi | 85% | 791 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,549 psi | 88% | 840 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 748 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,563 psi | 88% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,868 psi | 89% | 817 fps | 96% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 817 fps | 87.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 797 fps | 98.6% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,314 psi | 71% | 732 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,648 psi | 72% | 745 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,718 psi | 52% | 659 fps | 86.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,995 psi | 69% | 748 fps | 91.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,065 psi | 48% | 636 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,736 psi | 78% | 768 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,120 psi | 27% | 466 fps | 94.8% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,895 psi | 79% | 781 fps | 96.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,850 psi | 68% | 715 fps | 97.4% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,386 psi | 66% | 745 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,562 psi | 77% | 745 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,946 psi | 26% | 463 fps | 89.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,414 psi | 61% | 725 fps | 92.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,836 psi | 68% | 712 fps | 91.1% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 76% | 755 fps | 94.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,562 psi | 77% | 797 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,108 psi | 43% | 581 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 78% | 791 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,503 psi | 72% | 748 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,199 psi | 75% | 787 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 69% | 735 fps | 96.6% |
* 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 3 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .451 | 250gr | Rim Rock RNFP Top Shelf. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 748 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 636 fps to 748 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 51–89 %, 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. 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.