Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 230gr | H&N SWC KB bullet and 54 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 No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,186 psi | 86% | 843 fps | 91.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,998 psi | 90% | 866 fps | 99.3% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,462 psi | 87% | 846 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,751 psi | 84% | 850 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,142 psi | 80% | 823 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,780 psi | 84% | 879 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 869 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,114 psi | 85% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,592 psi | 88% | 896 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,128 psi | 86% | 869 fps | 94.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,635 psi | 83% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,013 psi | 90% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,911 psi | 84% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,838 psi | 84% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,418 psi | 87% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,955 psi | 90% | 876 fps | 99.1% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 850 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,896 psi | 84% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 755 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,905 psi | 47% | 663 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,472 psi | 56% | 682 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,867 psi | 84% | 863 fps | 99.3% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,040 psi | 80% | 850 fps | 96% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,621 psi | 88% | 866 fps | 97% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,114 psi | 85% | 846 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,751 psi | 84% | 827 fps | 98.8% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,200 psi | 81% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 17,056 psi | 90% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,824 psi | 89% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,534 psi | 88% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,600 psi | 40% | 646 fps | 96.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,456 psi | 50% | 676 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 919 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 889 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,897 psi | 90% | 860 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,925 psi | 84% | 827 fps | 93.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 840 fps | 97.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,243 psi | 81% | 833 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 850 fps | 99% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 84% | 866 fps | 92.8% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,259 psi | 86% | 863 fps | 95.6% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,070 psi | 85% | 843 fps | 95.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,926 psi | 90% | 912 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,375 psi | 87% | 846 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 96% | 16,128 psi | 86% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,868 psi | 89% | 899 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,505 psi | 88% | 876 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,273 psi | 81% | 850 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori N340² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 866 fps | 95.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,215 psi | 86% | 892 fps | 87.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,244 psi | 86% | 866 fps | 98.5% |
| 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 No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 73% | 791 fps | 88.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,821 psi | 63% | 758 fps | 96% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,111 psi | 70% | 774 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,734 psi | 62% | 764 fps | 98.2% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,198 psi | 70% | 784 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 9,268 psi | 49% | 709 fps | 85.2% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,863 psi | 52% | 705 fps | 86% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,069 psi | 75% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,545 psi | 61% | 778 fps | 89.3% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,155 psi | 70% | 801 fps | 91.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 73% | 778 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,171 psi | 80% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,556 psi | 40% | 650 fps | 96.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,978 psi | 48% | 676 fps | 98.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 74% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 70% | 801 fps | 97% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,808 psi | 79% | 817 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,533 psi | 77% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,563 psi | 83% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 3,742 psi | 20% | 463 fps | 88.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,134 psi | 27% | 495 fps | 94.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,170 psi | 75% | 827 fps | 98.6% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,387 psi | 71% | 814 fps | 94.4% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 79% | 833 fps | 95.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,327 psi | 60% | 741 fps | 95.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,676 psi | 67% | 758 fps | 96.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,356 psi | 55% | 761 fps | 99% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,154 psi | 64% | 787 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,677 psi | 73% | 787 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 80% | 801 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 78% | 850 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 4,380 psi | 23% | 509 fps | 86.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,931 psi | 26% | 492 fps | 88.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,254 psi | 54% | 751 fps | 89.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,531 psi | 61% | 774 fps | 91.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,864 psi | 63% | 745 fps | 89.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 69% | 761 fps | 90.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,707 psi | 78% | 807 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,634 psi | 72% | 801 fps | 97.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,011 psi | 80% | 814 fps | 98.1% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,808 psi | 73% | 820 fps | 90.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,097 psi | 69% | 791 fps | 92.5% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,518 psi | 77% | 807 fps | 93.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,924 psi | 79% | 869 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,373 psi | 76% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,266 psi | 33% | 587 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,861 psi | 42% | 614 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,734 psi | 68% | 814 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 75% | 830 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,734 psi | 62% | 768 fps | 90% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,111 psi | 70% | 784 fps | 91.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 14,272 psi | 76% | 850 fps | 85.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,139 psi | 59% | 751 fps | 94.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,647 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 54 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .452 | 230gr | H&N SWC KB. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 919 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 646 fps to 919 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 11 of the 54 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (130 MPa), the top charges use 40–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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, Accurate No. 2, Alliant Herco, Alliant Herco burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1250, Accurate Solo 1250 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.