Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .452 | 250gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot bullet and 26 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% | 16,549 psi | 88% | 778 fps | 91.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,070 psi | 85% | 778 fps | 99% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,259 psi | 86% | 784 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco | <<locked>> | 84% | 17,027 psi | 90% | 827 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,983 psi | 85% | 807 fps | 94.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,418 psi | 87% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,621 psi | 88% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,664 psi | 83% | 778 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 17,056 psi | 90% | 702 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,182 psi | 54% | 627 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 791 fps | 96.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,665 psi | 88% | 784 fps | 99.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,824 psi | 89% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,128 psi | 86% | 764 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,195 psi | 49% | 620 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,780 psi | 84% | 817 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,331 psi | 81% | 755 fps | 93.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,911 psi | 90% | 778 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,375 psi | 87% | 781 fps | 98.9% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,433 psi | 87% | 801 fps | 93.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,273 psi | 81% | 764 fps | 94.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 16,447 psi | 87% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,650 psi | 83% | 801 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,172 psi | 86% | 794 fps | 94.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,853 psi | 89% | 830 fps | 88.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,403 psi | 82% | 774 fps | 98% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,576 psi | 77% | 738 fps | 89.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,010 psi | 69% | 715 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,952 psi | 69% | 722 fps | 99% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,514 psi | 50% | 643 fps | 85.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,734 psi | 68% | 732 fps | 90.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 80% | 728 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,789 psi | 47% | 623 fps | 98.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 74% | 745 fps | 97.5% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,794 psi | 78% | 666 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,018 psi | 27% | 456 fps | 94% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 75% | 755 fps | 95.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,024 psi | 64% | 689 fps | 96.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,443 psi | 61% | 715 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,170 psi | 75% | 728 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,641 psi | 25% | 443 fps | 87.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,240 psi | 60% | 709 fps | 91.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,647 psi | 67% | 696 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 80% | 745 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,562 psi | 77% | 748 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,721 psi | 78% | 764 fps | 91.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,605 psi | 72% | 728 fps | 93% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,658 psi | 41% | 564 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,779 psi | 73% | 764 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,836 psi | 68% | 722 fps | 91.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,229 psi | 81% | 797 fps | 86.4% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,444 psi | 66% | 712 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 5 powders for .45 ACP loaded with the .452 | 250gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Alliant Herco delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 827 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 620 fps to 827 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 49–90 %, leaving at least 10 % 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. 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.