Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .4515 | 240gr | Sierra Sports Master bullet and 20 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% | 15,389 psi | 82% | 804 fps | 98.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,331 psi | 81% | 807 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,389 psi | 87% | 853 fps | 95.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,868 psi | 89% | 863 fps | 95.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,070 psi | 85% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,534 psi | 88% | 830 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,936 psi | 58% | 676 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,911 psi | 84% | 807 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,143 psi | 86% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,863 psi | 52% | 669 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 869 fps | 97.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,085 psi | 85% | 810 fps | 94.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,244 psi | 86% | 823 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 873 fps | 88.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,955 psi | 90% | 778 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,955 psi | 90% | 850 fps | 95.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 853 fps | 87.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,534 psi | 88% | 833 fps | 98.8% |
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% | 13,721 psi | 73% | 768 fps | 98% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,851 psi | 73% | 774 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,950 psi | 53% | 689 fps | 87% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,271 psi | 70% | 781 fps | 92% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,355 psi | 50% | 669 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 79% | 801 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.6 gr | 60% | 5,323 psi | 28% | 492 fps | 95.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,734 psi | 68% | 741 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,270 psi | 65% | 768 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,069 psi | 80% | 781 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.6 gr | 60% | 4,902 psi | 26% | 476 fps | 88.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,647 psi | 62% | 758 fps | 92.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,111 psi | 70% | 745 fps | 91.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,605 psi | 77% | 791 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,866 psi | 79% | 833 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 8,253 psi | 44% | 607 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,388 psi | 76% | 814 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,256 psi | 70% | 768 fps | 92.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,547 psi | 77% | 823 fps | 86.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,227 psi | 70% | 764 fps | 96.7% |
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 | 240gr | Sierra Sports Master. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 778 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 669 fps to 778 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 52–90 %, 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .45 ACP with the .4515 | 240gr | Sierra Sports 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.