Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 Colt with .452 | 195gr | H&N SWC HS bullet and 7 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 14 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: 5.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 14,315 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 96% | 13,343 psi | 84% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 92% | 14,011 psi | 88% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,894 psi | 81% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 96% | 13,677 psi | 86% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,518 psi | 85% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,648 psi | 86% | 935 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 5.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,691 psi | 80% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 5,990 psi | 38% | 709 fps | 98.6% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 5.4 gr | 60% | 7,382 psi | 46% | 741 fps | 99.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 5,381 psi | 34% | 689 fps | 93.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 5.5 gr | 60% | 6,933 psi | 43% | 735 fps | 97.5% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,718 psi | 67% | 876 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,285 psi | 77% | 899 fps | 100% |
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 Colt loaded with the .452 | 195gr | H&N SWC HS. ReloadSwiss RS 14 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 981 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 958 fps to 981 fps. ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 (110 MPa), the top charges use 81–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. 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. ReloadSwiss RS 14, Hodgdon TrailBoss rank at the top here: for .45 Colt with the .452 | 195gr | H&N SWC HS 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.