Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 230gr | X-TREME RN bullet and 17 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss and ReloadSwiss RS 14.
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% | 15,316 psi | 81% | 784 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,679 psi | 83% | 797 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,795 psi | 89% | 843 fps | 94% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,650 psi | 83% | 817 fps | 92.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,013 psi | 90% | 823 fps | 98.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,806 psi | 63% | 673 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,491 psi | 87% | 804 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,331 psi | 87% | 837 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,066 psi | 59% | 673 fps | 98.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,607 psi | 88% | 860 fps | 96% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,737 psi | 89% | 804 fps | 93.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,375 psi | 87% | 807 fps | 94.4% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 88% | 16,679 psi | 88% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,723 psi | 89% | 846 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,563 psi | 83% | 801 fps | 93% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 820 fps | 97.8% |
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 Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,185 psi | 75% | 761 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 75% | 768 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,037 psi | 59% | 696 fps | 86.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,228 psi | 75% | 781 fps | 91.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,240 psi | 54% | 673 fps | 98.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,432 psi | 82% | 791 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.3 gr | 60% | 6,527 psi | 35% | 499 fps | 96.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,300 psi | 71% | 735 fps | 96.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,097 psi | 69% | 768 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 2.4 gr | 60% | 6,483 psi | 34% | 499 fps | 92.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,372 psi | 66% | 755 fps | 91.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,677 psi | 73% | 738 fps | 89.9% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,794 psi | 78% | 774 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 3.2 gr | 60% | 9,471 psi | 50% | 610 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,939 psi | 79% | 810 fps | 98.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 74% | 768 fps | 91.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,851 psi | 73% | 758 fps | 95.7% |
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 3 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .452 | 230gr | X-TREME RN. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 761 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 673 fps to 761 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 59–88 %, leaving at least 12 % 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. Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .45 ACP with the .452 | 230gr | X-TREME RN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.