Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .4515 | 200gr | Sierra Tournament Master bullet and 14 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% | 16,244 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 99% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,592 psi | 88% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,012 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 94.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,056 psi | 85% | 988 fps | 94.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,693 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,879 psi | 63% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,809 psi | 84% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,660 psi | 57% | 804 fps | 99.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,244 psi | 86% | 1014 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,708 psi | 83% | 942 fps | 93.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,027 psi | 85% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 988 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,041 psi | 85% | 965 fps | 98.2% |
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% | 14,446 psi | 77% | 915 fps | 98% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,968 psi | 79% | 932 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,588 psi | 56% | 823 fps | 87.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,431 psi | 77% | 945 fps | 92.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,051 psi | 53% | 801 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 3.4 gr | 60% | 5,598 psi | 30% | 587 fps | 95.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,924 psi | 74% | 899 fps | 97.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,605 psi | 72% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 5,337 psi | 28% | 581 fps | 89.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,821 psi | 68% | 919 fps | 93.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,156 psi | 75% | 899 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 8,876 psi | 47% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,576 psi | 77% | 935 fps | 93.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,156 psi | 75% | 919 fps | 96.9% |
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 .4515 | 200gr | Sierra Tournament Master. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 896 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 804 fps to 896 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 57–85 %, leaving at least 15 % 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 .4515 | 200gr | Sierra Tournament Master 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.