Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold TL452-230-2R bullet and 34 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star and Hodgdon TrailBoss.
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% | 15,577 psi | 83% | 817 fps | 90.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,273 psi | 86% | 843 fps | 98.8% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,505 psi | 88% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,418 psi | 87% | 853 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,490 psi | 82% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,476 psi | 87% | 886 fps | 94.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,693 psi | 83% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,461 psi | 82% | 863 fps | 93.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,621 psi | 88% | 853 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,679 psi | 83% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,853 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,013 psi | 90% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,615 psi | 46% | 650 fps | 99.5% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,013 psi | 90% | 873 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,259 psi | 86% | 863 fps | 96.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,461 psi | 82% | 823 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,302 psi | 86% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,592 psi | 88% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,114 psi | 85% | 814 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,621 psi | 83% | 860 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,339 psi | 39% | 630 fps | 95.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,940 psi | 85% | 886 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,853 psi | 84% | 827 fps | 93.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,549 psi | 88% | 830 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 84% | 817 fps | 97% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,360 psi | 87% | 846 fps | 98.7% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,042 psi | 90% | 879 fps | 93.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,679 psi | 83% | 840 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,403 psi | 82% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,172 psi | 86% | 876 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,505 psi | 88% | 863 fps | 94.7% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,795 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 97.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,155 psi | 70% | 764 fps | 87.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,589 psi | 61% | 745 fps | 95.3% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 80% | 768 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,182 psi | 59% | 741 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 75% | 781 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 9,834 psi | 52% | 719 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,561 psi | 72% | 758 fps | 100% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,907 psi | 58% | 748 fps | 87.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,590 psi | 72% | 764 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 7,353 psi | 39% | 636 fps | 95.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 70% | 791 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 67% | 778 fps | 96% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,127 psi | 75% | 712 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 2.5 gr | 60% | 3,669 psi | 19% | 453 fps | 87.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,387 psi | 71% | 801 fps | 97.8% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,734 psi | 68% | 787 fps | 93.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,631 psi | 56% | 715 fps | 94.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,573 psi | 51% | 735 fps | 98.1% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,821 psi | 68% | 761 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,083 psi | 75% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,735 psi | 73% | 827 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 4,554 psi | 24% | 515 fps | 86.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,761 psi | 52% | 725 fps | 87.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,298 psi | 60% | 722 fps | 87.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,808 psi | 79% | 797 fps | 98.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,156 psi | 75% | 784 fps | 95.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 68% | 774 fps | 96.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,300 psi | 71% | 797 fps | 89.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,488 psi | 66% | 764 fps | 91.1% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,040 psi | 74% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.3 gr | 60% | 5,889 psi | 31% | 571 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,038 psi | 64% | 787 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,153 psi | 59% | 741 fps | 88.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,617 psi | 56% | 728 fps | 92.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* 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 | 230gr | LEE Mold TL452-230-2R. Alliant Herco delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 886 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 630 fps to 886 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 39–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .45 ACP with the .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold TL452-230-2R they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.