Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 200gr | H&N RN KB bullet and 16 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>> | 64% | 16,056 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,085 psi | 85% | 951 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,606 psi | 83% | 968 fps | 93.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,911 psi | 84% | 978 fps | 93.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,897 psi | 90% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,269 psi | 60% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 958 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,998 psi | 90% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,124 psi | 54% | 781 fps | 98.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,766 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 96.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,897 psi | 90% | 961 fps | 94.4% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 95.6% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,157 psi | 86% | 965 fps | 94.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,984 psi | 90% | 1014 fps | 87.8% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,548 psi | 82% | 945 fps | 97.7% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 75% | 902 fps | 97.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,460 psi | 77% | 915 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,428 psi | 55% | 814 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,851 psi | 73% | 922 fps | 91.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,834 psi | 52% | 787 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,526 psi | 29% | 581 fps | 94.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 70% | 873 fps | 97% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 70% | 915 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,105 psi | 27% | 564 fps | 88.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,299 psi | 65% | 896 fps | 92.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,619 psi | 72% | 879 fps | 91% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 80% | 928 fps | 94.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,528 psi | 45% | 712 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,040 psi | 74% | 912 fps | 92.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,055 psi | 80% | 965 fps | 85.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,663 psi | 72% | 899 fps | 96.3% |
* 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 16 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .452 | 200gr | H&N RN KB. Vihtavuori N350 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,014 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 781 fps to 1,014 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 16 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. 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.