Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 Auto Rim with .451 | 160gr | Barnes TAC-XP bullet and 20 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 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 Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,736 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 94.5% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,273 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 97.4% |
| Alliant Herco* | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,708 psi | 90% | 1070 fps | 88.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,765 psi | 85% | 1043 fps | 87.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,621 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 15,069 psi | 87% | 1037 fps | 99.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,895 psi | 86% | 1024 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,935 psi | 57% | 840 fps | 98.4% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,939 psi | 86% | 1040 fps | 90.7% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,519 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 95.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,069 psi | 87% | 1079 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,997 psi | 86% | 1010 fps | 98.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,036 psi | 52% | 823 fps | 93.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,518 psi | 83% | 1056 fps | 89.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,519 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 94.8% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,547 psi | 84% | 1007 fps | 88.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 92% | 14,779 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,199 psi | 82% | 1043 fps | 95.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,939 psi | 86% | 1030 fps | 88.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,504 psi | 83% | 1017 fps | 92.9% |
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 Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,893 psi | 68% | 928 fps | 91% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,314 psi | 71% | 951 fps | 94.7% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 13,358 psi | 77% | 997 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,271 psi | 76% | 994 fps | 85.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,808 psi | 79% | 958 fps | 97.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,441 psi | 49% | 817 fps | 93.3% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,373 psi | 77% | 981 fps | 92.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 3 gr | 60% | 5,381 psi | 31% | 614 fps | 89.7% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,242 psi | 76% | 991 fps | 88.6% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,603 psi | 67% | 912 fps | 90.7% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,762 psi | 62% | 942 fps | 95.7% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,285 psi | 76% | 961 fps | 97% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 5,874 psi | 34% | 653 fps | 85.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,053 psi | 75% | 1007 fps | 87.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,822 psi | 79% | 984 fps | 93.1% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 75% | 958 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 7,687 psi | 44% | 761 fps | 99.1% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 73% | 994 fps | 94% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,358 psi | 77% | 984 fps | 86% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,908 psi | 68% | 932 fps | 89.5% |
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 4 powders for .45 Auto Rim loaded with the .451 | 160gr | Barnes TAC-XP. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,037 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 823 fps to 1,037 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 4 of the 4 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (120 MPa), the top charges use 52–87 %, leaving at least 13 % 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 rank at the top here: for .45 Auto Rim with the .451 | 160gr | Barnes TAC-XP they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, ReloadSwiss RS 14 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 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.