Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 230gr | H&N RN HS bullet and 22 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 Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,447 psi | 87% | 846 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,127 psi | 80% | 823 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,128 psi | 86% | 869 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 883 fps | 94.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,998 psi | 90% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,809 psi | 84% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,317 psi | 87% | 850 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,911 psi | 90% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,501 psi | 56% | 682 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,592 psi | 88% | 866 fps | 96.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,780 psi | 84% | 827 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,331 psi | 81% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,795 psi | 89% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,442 psi | 50% | 676 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,085 psi | 85% | 889 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,940 psi | 85% | 827 fps | 93.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 850 fps | 99% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,041 psi | 85% | 843 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,737 psi | 89% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,491 psi | 87% | 879 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 866 fps | 95.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,230 psi | 86% | 853 fps | 98.3% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,126 psi | 70% | 774 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,213 psi | 70% | 784 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,863 psi | 52% | 705 fps | 86.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,140 psi | 70% | 801 fps | 91.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 80% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,963 psi | 48% | 676 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,794 psi | 78% | 817 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,548 psi | 82% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,134 psi | 27% | 495 fps | 94.1% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,910 psi | 79% | 833 fps | 95.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,662 psi | 67% | 758 fps | 96.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,140 psi | 64% | 787 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,997 psi | 80% | 801 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,946 psi | 26% | 492 fps | 88.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,516 psi | 61% | 771 fps | 91.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,024 psi | 69% | 761 fps | 90.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,026 psi | 80% | 817 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 77% | 807 fps | 93.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,890 psi | 42% | 614 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 75% | 830 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,097 psi | 69% | 784 fps | 91.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 67% | 771 fps | 95.6% |
* 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 | 230gr | H&N RN HS. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 797 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 676 fps to 797 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 50–89 %, 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. 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.