Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 ACP with .454 | 250gr | H&N SWC KB bullet and 29 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% | 16,012 psi | 85% | 758 fps | 90.7% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,461 psi | 82% | 758 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,795 psi | 84% | 771 fps | 99.8% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,143 psi | 86% | 801 fps | 94.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,679 psi | 88% | 814 fps | 94.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,462 psi | 87% | 745 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 16,201 psi | 86% | 774 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,042 psi | 90% | 794 fps | 99% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,230 psi | 86% | 682 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,095 psi | 54% | 620 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,810 psi | 89% | 794 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,374 psi | 82% | 774 fps | 95.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,099 psi | 85% | 768 fps | 98.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,186 psi | 86% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,461 psi | 82% | 745 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,752 psi | 89% | 755 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,717 psi | 46% | 604 fps | 97.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,534 psi | 88% | 827 fps | 96.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,650 psi | 88% | 771 fps | 94.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 64% | 16,418 psi | 87% | 761 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,824 psi | 84% | 764 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,954 psi | 85% | 784 fps | 92.5% |
| Somchem MS200² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,549 psi | 88% | 784 fps | 95.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,027 psi | 90% | 830 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 15,780 psi | 84% | 722 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,040 psi | 80% | 784 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,708 psi | 83% | 778 fps | 94.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,694 psi | 89% | 791 fps | 98.4% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,025 psi | 74% | 719 fps | 88.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,372 psi | 66% | 696 fps | 96.3% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,430 psi | 66% | 705 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 10,225 psi | 54% | 659 fps | 86.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,227 psi | 65% | 712 fps | 89.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 76% | 709 fps | 99.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,340 psi | 44% | 607 fps | 97.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,663 psi | 78% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,532 psi | 72% | 725 fps | 96.9% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 78% | 659 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,873 psi | 26% | 446 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 79% | 755 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,503 psi | 72% | 735 fps | 94.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,980 psi | 64% | 682 fps | 95.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,298 psi | 60% | 709 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,098 psi | 75% | 719 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 81% | 732 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,511 psi | 24% | 433 fps | 86.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,805 psi | 57% | 692 fps | 89.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,198 psi | 65% | 679 fps | 89% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 78% | 728 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,967 psi | 74% | 728 fps | 97.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,286 psi | 76% | 748 fps | 90.7% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,619 psi | 72% | 722 fps | 92.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,823 psi | 79% | 784 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,498 psi | 40% | 554 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,184 psi | 70% | 745 fps | 98.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,328 psi | 65% | 705 fps | 90.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,038 psi | 64% | 696 fps | 94.8% |
* 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 .454 | 250gr | H&N SWC KB. Alliant Herco delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 801 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 604 fps to 801 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 46–86 %, leaving at least 14 % 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. 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.