Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 200gr | H&N SWC KB bullet and 18 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% | 15,200 psi | 81% | 915 fps | 98% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,432 psi | 82% | 928 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,288 psi | 86% | 974 fps | 93.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,534 psi | 88% | 981 fps | 94% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,867 psi | 84% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,636 psi | 88% | 958 fps | 98.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,849 psi | 58% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,012 psi | 85% | 932 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,041 psi | 85% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,882 psi | 90% | 938 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,703 psi | 51% | 761 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,505 psi | 88% | 1001 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,317 psi | 87% | 935 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,128 psi | 86% | 945 fps | 94.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 15,867 psi | 84% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,433 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 94.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 961 fps | 98% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,358 psi | 71% | 869 fps | 96.6% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,735 psi | 73% | 889 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,052 psi | 59% | 823 fps | 87.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,489 psi | 72% | 902 fps | 90.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,166 psi | 49% | 758 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,895 psi | 79% | 915 fps | 97.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,294 psi | 28% | 564 fps | 93.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,865 psi | 68% | 853 fps | 96.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,328 psi | 65% | 883 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,823 psi | 79% | 892 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,902 psi | 26% | 545 fps | 87.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,705 psi | 62% | 866 fps | 90.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,952 psi | 69% | 846 fps | 89.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 76% | 899 fps | 92.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,296 psi | 44% | 699 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,460 psi | 77% | 935 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,343 psi | 71% | 883 fps | 90.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,097 psi | 69% | 873 fps | 95.2% |
* 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 .452 | 200gr | H&N SWC KB. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 879 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 761 fps to 879 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 51–84 %, leaving at least 16 % 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. 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.