Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 Auto Rim with .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold 452-230-TC bullet and 9 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,272 psi | 82% | 896 fps | 95.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 15,737 psi | 90% | 889 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,429 psi | 66% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,664 psi | 90% | 889 fps | 99.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,834 psi | 56% | 748 fps | 99.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,373 psi | 83% | 915 fps | 97.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,228 psi | 82% | 906 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 80% | 13,967 psi | 80% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,040 psi | 81% | 902 fps | 87.9% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,964 psi | 57% | 771 fps | 89.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,631 psi | 55% | 748 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | 3.4 gr | 60% | 4,641 psi | 27% | 535 fps | 94.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,851 psi | 80% | 850 fps | 99% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3.5 gr | 60% | 4,192 psi | 24% | 518 fps | 87.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,792 psi | 74% | 873 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,459 psi | 72% | 860 fps | 85.1% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,151 psi | 47% | 673 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,241 psi | 70% | 853 fps | 85.2% |
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 2 powders for .45 Auto Rim loaded with the .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold 452-230-TC. Hodgdon TrailBoss delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 761 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 748 fps to 761 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 2 of the 2 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (120 MPa), the top charges use 56–66 %, leaving at least 34 % 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .45 Auto Rim with the .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold 452-230-TC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.