Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 Auto Rim with .452 | 255gr | Rim Rock SWC Top Shelf 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% | 15,185 psi | 87% | 827 fps | 96.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,881 psi | 86% | 787 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,531 psi | 72% | 702 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,313 psi | 65% | 699 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,098 psi | 87% | 843 fps | 98.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,243 psi | 88% | 817 fps | 87.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,287 psi | 88% | 846 fps | 89.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,374 psi | 88% | 745 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,924 psi | 86% | 837 fps | 89.4% |
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% | 11,385 psi | 65% | 732 fps | 91.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,704 psi | 62% | 699 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 2.9 gr | 60% | 5,802 psi | 33% | 509 fps | 97.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 3 gr | 60% | 5,569 psi | 32% | 505 fps | 93.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,300 psi | 76% | 801 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,692 psi | 79% | 781 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,300 psi | 76% | 797 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,558 psi | 55% | 630 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,314 psi | 77% | 797 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 2 powders for .45 Auto Rim loaded with the .452 | 255gr | Rim Rock SWC Top Shelf. Hodgdon TrailBoss delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 702 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 699 fps to 702 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 65–72 %, leaving at least 28 % 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 | 255gr | Rim Rock SWC Top Shelf 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.