Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .451 | 260gr | Speer JHP bullet and 22 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% | 17,027 psi | 90% | 778 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,331 psi | 81% | 755 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,737 psi | 83% | 787 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,288 psi | 86% | 797 fps | 95.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,549 psi | 88% | 778 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,878 psi | 58% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 794 fps | 97.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,664 psi | 83% | 748 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,273 psi | 81% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,404 psi | 87% | 751 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,427 psi | 50% | 614 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,041 psi | 85% | 807 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 755 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 771 fps | 99.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,085 psi | 85% | 768 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,476 psi | 87% | 814 fps | 88.6% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,998 psi | 85% | 791 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,476 psi | 87% | 784 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,519 psi | 82% | 791 fps | 87.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,259 psi | 86% | 774 fps | 98.8% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,213 psi | 70% | 705 fps | 97.8% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,169 psi | 70% | 712 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,689 psi | 51% | 636 fps | 87% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,966 psi | 69% | 725 fps | 92.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,978 psi | 48% | 617 fps | 98.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,823 psi | 79% | 745 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,120 psi | 27% | 453 fps | 95% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,982 psi | 79% | 758 fps | 96.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,763 psi | 68% | 692 fps | 97.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,299 psi | 65% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,040 psi | 80% | 728 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,960 psi | 26% | 449 fps | 89.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,458 psi | 61% | 702 fps | 92.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,850 psi | 68% | 689 fps | 91.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,808 psi | 79% | 735 fps | 98.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 76% | 732 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,417 psi | 76% | 771 fps | 86.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,832 psi | 42% | 554 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,069 psi | 75% | 755 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 69% | 715 fps | 92.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,025 psi | 74% | 758 fps | 85.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,676 psi | 67% | 702 fps | 96.4% |
* 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 | 260gr | Speer JHP. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 774 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 614 fps to 774 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 50–90 %, leaving at least 10 % 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.