Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .45 Colt with .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold TL452-230-2R bullet and 2 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: 5.5"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 92% | 13,706 psi | 86% | 869 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,040 psi | 88% | 909 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | 5.2 gr | 60% | 6,599 psi | 41% | 663 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14² | 5.3 gr | 60% | 5,961 psi | 37% | 653 fps | 97.3% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
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 Colt loaded with the .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold TL452-230-2R. ReloadSwiss RS 14 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 909 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 869 fps to 909 fps. ReloadSwiss RS 14 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 (110 MPa), the top charges use 86–88 %, 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. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14 rank at the top here: for .45 Colt with the .452 | 230gr | LEE Mold TL452-230-2R 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.