Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 Auto Rim with .452 | 250gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot bullet and 18 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% | 15,621 psi | 90% | 853 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Herco² | <<locked>> | 72% | 15,621 psi | 90% | 853 fps | 96.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,939 psi | 86% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,939 psi | 86% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,778 psi | 73% | 719 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,778 psi | 73% | 719 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,502 psi | 66% | 719 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,502 psi | 66% | 719 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,185 psi | 87% | 863 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,185 psi | 87% | 863 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,563 psi | 89% | 840 fps | 88.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,563 psi | 89% | 840 fps | 88.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,229 psi | 88% | 860 fps | 89.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,229 psi | 88% | 860 fps | 89.3% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,621 psi | 90% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,621 psi | 90% | 761 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,881 psi | 86% | 850 fps | 89.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,881 psi | 86% | 850 fps | 89.3% |
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% | 11,197 psi | 64% | 741 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,197 psi | 64% | 741 fps | 91.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,907 psi | 63% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,907 psi | 63% | 715 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 3 gr | 60% | 5,860 psi | 34% | 522 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 3 gr | 60% | 5,860 psi | 34% | 522 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3.1 gr | 60% | 5,598 psi | 32% | 518 fps | 93.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3.1 gr | 60% | 5,598 psi | 32% | 518 fps | 93.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,431 psi | 77% | 820 fps | 96.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,431 psi | 77% | 820 fps | 96.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,721 psi | 79% | 797 fps | 85.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,721 psi | 79% | 797 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,329 psi | 77% | 814 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,329 psi | 77% | 814 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,514 psi | 55% | 640 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,514 psi | 55% | 640 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,314 psi | 77% | 810 fps | 87.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,314 psi | 77% | 810 fps | 87.3% |
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 .452 | 250gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot. Hodgdon TrailBoss delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 719 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 719 fps to 719 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 66–73 %, leaving at least 27 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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 | 250gr | Speer Hollow Point Gold Dot they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Hodgdon TrailBoss, 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.