Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 200gr | H&N HP HS bullet and 15 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% | 15,795 psi | 84% | 942 fps | 98.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,940 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,984 psi | 90% | 1001 fps | 94.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,708 psi | 83% | 968 fps | 93.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,429 psi | 61% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,578 psi | 88% | 951 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,225 psi | 54% | 784 fps | 98.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,592 psi | 83% | 988 fps | 95.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,708 psi | 89% | 955 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,491 psi | 87% | 899 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,940 psi | 85% | 958 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 87.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,027 psi | 90% | 978 fps | 98.5% |
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% | 13,953 psi | 74% | 896 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,243 psi | 76% | 909 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,269 psi | 54% | 807 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,054 psi | 75% | 925 fps | 91.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,660 psi | 51% | 781 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 3.2 gr | 60% | 5,366 psi | 28% | 571 fps | 94.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,460 psi | 71% | 876 fps | 97.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,024 psi | 69% | 906 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3.3 gr | 60% | 5,134 psi | 27% | 564 fps | 88.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,140 psi | 64% | 889 fps | 91.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,416 psi | 71% | 869 fps | 90.6% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 8,630 psi | 46% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,837 psi | 73% | 906 fps | 92% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,895 psi | 79% | 958 fps | 85.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,503 psi | 72% | 892 fps | 96% |
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 15 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .452 | 200gr | H&N HP HS. Vihtavuori N350 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,007 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 784 fps to 1,007 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 15 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (130 MPa), the top charges use 54–90 %, 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 .452 | 200gr | H&N HP HS they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant Herco, Alliant UNIQUE, SNPE Vectan A0 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Alliant Herco 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.