Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 200gr | Hornady SWC bullet and 31 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,404 psi | 87% | 942 fps | 90.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 98.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,563 psi | 83% | 945 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,360 psi | 87% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,041 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 93.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,520 psi | 88% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,969 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 94.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 84% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,404 psi | 87% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,447 psi | 87% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,036 psi | 48% | 745 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,302 psi | 86% | 968 fps | 99.1% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,650 psi | 83% | 961 fps | 95.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,346 psi | 87% | 951 fps | 98.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,229 psi | 81% | 915 fps | 99.9% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 991 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,673 psi | 41% | 719 fps | 95.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 1017 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 955 fps | 93.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,375 psi | 87% | 938 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 938 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 92% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 971 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,607 psi | 88% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 912 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,185 psi | 81% | 965 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,708 psi | 83% | 955 fps | 93.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,636 psi | 88% | 974 fps | 98.1% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,286 psi | 76% | 892 fps | 88.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,212 psi | 65% | 853 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,082 psi | 64% | 860 fps | 97.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,707 psi | 78% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 10,472 psi | 56% | 827 fps | 86.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,692 psi | 78% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,647 psi | 62% | 863 fps | 88% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,257 psi | 76% | 879 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,876 psi | 42% | 735 fps | 96.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,315 psi | 76% | 912 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,649 psi | 78% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 3,742 psi | 20% | 512 fps | 87.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,301 psi | 76% | 922 fps | 98% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,677 psi | 73% | 912 fps | 93.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,284 psi | 60% | 823 fps | 94.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,704 psi | 57% | 856 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,692 psi | 73% | 879 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,142 psi | 80% | 902 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 78% | 948 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 4,786 psi | 25% | 587 fps | 86.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,240 psi | 54% | 830 fps | 87.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,951 psi | 63% | 833 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,518 psi | 77% | 896 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,721 psi | 73% | 892 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,895 psi | 74% | 912 fps | 89.5% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,126 psi | 70% | 879 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 79% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,454 psi | 34% | 663 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,184 psi | 70% | 915 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,125 psi | 64% | 863 fps | 89.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,356 psi | 60% | 840 fps | 93.3% |
* 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 5 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .452 | 200gr | Hornady SWC. Alliant Herco delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 984 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 719 fps to 984 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 5 of the 5 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (130 MPa), the top charges use 41–89 %, leaving at least 11 % 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 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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.