Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .450 Bushmaster with .451 | 230gr | Geco FMJ bullet and 7 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Lovex S053, Vihtavuori N110 and SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2.
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 ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,345 psi | 88% | 2221 fps | 97.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 82% | 34,069 psi | 87% | 2392 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,308 psi | 62% | 1493 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 98% | 35,433 psi | 90% | 2343 fps | 97.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,119 psi | 59% | 1522 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,896 psi | 89% | 2251 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,360 psi | 90% | 2323 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,485 psi | 73% | 2100 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,691 psi | 81% | 2346 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,172 psi | 44% | 1332 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S053 | 40.3 gr | 90% | 27,978 psi | 71% | 2185 fps | 95.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 16,433 psi | 42% | 1362 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | 32.8 gr | 80% | 19,899 psi | 51% | 1916 fps | 98.3% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 34.2 gr | 80% | 24,279 psi | 62% | 2090 fps | 98.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 15 powders for .450 Bushmaster loaded with the .451 | 230gr | Geco FMJ. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,392 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,493 fps to 2,392 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 15 of the 15 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (270 MPa), the top charges use 59–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. ADI AR 2207, 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. Lovex S053, Vihtavuori N110, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 rank at the top here: for .450 Bushmaster with the .451 | 230gr | Geco FMJ they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 11 FS, ADI AR 2207, IMR 4227 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.