Reference Data / .45 ACP

.45 ACP Ballistics Chart

All 78 factory .45 ACP loads in the catalog, solved under identical conditions so they can be compared directly.

Solved under
  • 16" barrel
  • 100 yd zero
  • 2.6" sight height
  • 10 mph full-value crosswind
  • G1 drag, sea-level standard atmosphere

Muzzle velocity is each load's published figure corrected to the barrel length above using the cartridge's own fps-per-inch curve — so every row is directly comparable. Published spec sheets are not comparable to each other; each maker tests at a different barrel length, zero, and sight height.

Representative trajectory — Underwood 135gr +P Xtreme Defender

Median-energy supersonic load, carried to 1,000 yards. Drop is inches below line of sight; MOA is the correction to dial.

Range (yd)Velocity (fps)Energy (ft-lb)Drop (in)Drop (MOA)Wind (in)TOF (s)
1001,117374004.40.245
200977286-25.2-1216.60.533
300887236-86.7-27.634.80.856
400816200-192.5-4658.31.21
500757172-350.5-6786.91.592
600704149-569.5-90.7120.82.004
700657129-859.1-117.2160.12.447
800613113-1230-146.8205.12.922
90057398-1694.9-179.9256.33.433
100053686-2267.9-216.6314.23.981

All 78 factory loads

Sorted by muzzle energy. est. marks a ballistic coefficient the manufacturer doesn't publish. Those use a value typical of the bullet's construction — match, tipped, soft point, monolithic, FMJ — because shape drives BC far more than weight does. A 100gr round-nose soft point can have a lower BC than a 95gr tipped bullet in the same cartridge.

LoadgrBC (G1)MV (fps)ME (ft-lb)300 yd vel300 yd E300 yd drop300 yd wind500 yd E500 yd drop
Underwood 185gr +P Xtreme Defender1850.18est.1,266659861304-95.732.7224-379.6
Winchester Ranger T-Series 230gr JHP (RA45T)subsonic2300.19est.1,056570803329-118.824.8249-454.3
Underwood 135gr +P Xtreme Defender1350.18est.1,366559887236-86.734.8172-350.5
Black Hills HoneyBadger 135gr +P (D45N920)1350.18est.1,341539881232-88.934.3170-357.5
Hornady Critical Duty 220gr FlexLock +P (90926)subsonic2200.19est.1,041530796310-121.324.4235-462.8
Black Hills 230gr +P JHP (D45N720)subsonic2300.19est.1,016527785315-125.823.8239-478.3
Federal HST 230gr +P JHP (P45HST1)subsonic2300.19est.1,016527785315-125.823.8239-478.3
Underwood 230gr +P Bonded JHPsubsonic2300.19est.1,016527785315-125.823.8239-478.3
Underwood 230gr +P Gold Dot JHPsubsonic2300.19est.1,016527785315-125.823.8239-478.3
Federal Syntech Defense 205gr SJHP (S45SD1)subsonic2050.19est.1,066517807296-117.225.1224-448.9
Speer Gold Dot 185gr GDHP (23961)subsonic1850.19est.1,116512826280-110.226.7211-425
Underwood 220gr +P Xtreme Penetratorsubsonic2200.18est.1,016504776294-127.425220-487.3
Norma MHP 170gr Monolithic Hollow Pointsubsonic1700.18est.1,148498826258-10829.1191-420.4
Winchester PDX1 Defender 230gr Bonded JHP (S45PDB)subsonic2300.19est.986497770303-131.823.1231-499.4
Magtech Guardian Gold 230gr +P JHP (GG45A)subsonic2300.19est.984495769302-132.323.1230-500.9
Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 210gr JHP (P45HSD1)subsonic2100.19est.1,016481785287-125.823.8218-478.3
Remington Golden Saber 185gr BJHP (GS45APA)subsonic1850.19est.1,081480813272-11525.6205-441.2
Federal Hydra-Shok 230gr JHP (P45HS1)subsonic2300.19est.966477759295-136.322.7225-515.2
Barnes VOR-TX 185gr TAC-XP +P (21552)subsonic1850.18est.1,066467797261-118.926.4195-457.7
Black Hills 185gr JHP (M45N1)subsonic1850.19est.1,066467807268-117.225.1202-448.9
Federal American Eagle 230gr FMJ (AE45A)subsonic2300.195est.956467758293-137.922225-519.3
Federal HST 230gr JHP (P45HST2)subsonic2300.19est.956467754290-138.722.6222-523.6
Federal Punch 230gr JHP (PD45P1)subsonic2300.19est.956467754290-138.722.6222-523.6
Federal Train + Protect 230gr VHP (T45VHP1)subsonic2300.19est.956467754290-138.722.6222-523.6
Hornady Critical Defense 185gr FTX (90900)subsonic1850.19est.1,066467807268-117.225.1202-448.9
Speer Gold Dot 230gr GDHP (53966)subsonic2300.19est.956467754290-138.722.6222-523.6
Winchester Super-X Silvertip 185gr STHP (X45CSHP2)subsonic1850.19est.1,066467807268-117.225.1202-448.9
Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown 185gr JHP (E45AP1)subsonic1850.19est.1,061463805266-11825202-451.6
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 200gr XTP (45XTP200)subsonic2000.1751,016459771264-128.425.7196-492.3
Winchester USA 230gr JHP (USA45JHP)subsonic2300.19est.946457748286-141.222.5218-532.5
Federal American Eagle Syntech Range 220gr TSJ (AE45SJ1)subsonic2200.195est.966456763285-135.522.2219-510.9
Nosler ASP 230gr JHP (51287)subsonic2300.19est.941452745284-142.522.4217-537
Remington Golden Saber 230gr BJHP (GS45APB)subsonic2300.19est.941452745284-142.522.4217-537
Remington Golden Saber Bonded 230gr BJHP (GSB45APBB)subsonic2300.19est.941452745284-142.522.4217-537
Remington Ultimate Defense Full-Size 230gr BJHP (HD45APBN)subsonic2300.19est.941452745284-142.522.4217-537
Norma Range & Training 230gr FMJsubsonic2300.195est.935447746284-143.321.8219-538.2
Winchester Super Suppressed 230gr FMJ (SUP45)subsonic2300.195est.926438740280-145.721.7216-546.8
Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown 200gr JHP (E45AP2)subsonic2000.19est.984430769263-132.323.1200-500.9
Black Hills 230gr FMJ (D45N120)subsonic2300.195est.916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
Black Hills 230gr JHP (D45N220)subsonic2300.19est.916429730272-149.422.2209-561.3
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics 230gr XTP (45XTP25)subsonic2300.195916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
Hornady Custom 230gr XTP (9096)subsonic2300.195916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
Hornady Steel Match 230gr HAP (91690)subsonic2300.18916429722266-151.223.4201-571.2
IMI Systems 230gr FMJsubsonic2300.195est.916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
PPU (Prvi Partizan) 230gr FMJ (PPH45)subsonic2300.195est.916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
Underwood 230gr FMJsubsonic2300.195est.916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
Winchester WinClean 230gr BEB (WC451)subsonic2300.195est.916429734275-148.621.6212-556.8
Federal HST 205gr Micro JHP (P45HST3S)subsonic2050.19est.966425759263-136.322.7200-515.2
CCI Blazer Aluminum 230gr FMJ (3565)subsonic2300.195est.911424731273-15021.6210-562
Federal Personal Defense 185gr JHP (C45C)subsonic1850.19est.1,016424785253-125.823.8192-478.3
Hornady American Gunner 185gr XTP (90902)subsonic1850.151,016424742226-133.929.7161-522.7
Speer Lawman 230gr TMJ (53651)subsonic2300.195est.911424731273-15021.6210-562
Speer Lawman CleanFire 230gr TMJ (53881)subsonic2300.195est.911424731273-15021.6210-562
Magtech 230gr FMJ (45A)subsonic2300.195est.903417726269-152.421.5208-570.5
Magtech 230gr JHP (45B)subsonic2300.19est.903417722266-153.222.1204-575.1
Hornady Custom 200gr XTP (9112)subsonic2000.175966415746247-13924.6185-529.7
Remington HTP 230gr JHP (RTP45AP1)subsonic2300.19est.901415720265-153.922.1203-577.3
Remington Range 230gr FMJ (T45AP)subsonic2300.195est.901415724268-15321.5207-572.7
Remington UMC 230gr FMJ (L45AP4)subsonic2300.195est.901415724268-15321.5207-572.7
Remington UMC 230gr JHP (L45AP6)subsonic2300.19est.901415720265-153.922.1203-577.3
Winchester Service Grade 230gr FMJ (SG45W)subsonic2300.195est.901415724268-15321.5207-572.7
Winchester Super-X 230gr FMJ (X45A)subsonic2300.195est.901415724268-15321.5207-572.7
Winchester USA Ready 230gr FMJ FN (RED45)subsonic2300.195est.901415724268-15321.5207-572.7
Winchester USA White Box 230gr FMJ (Q4170)subsonic2300.195est.901415724268-15321.5207-572.7
Aguila 230gr FMJ (1E452110)subsonic2300.195est.896410721266-154.621.5205-578.2
CCI Blazer Brass 230gr FMJ (5230)subsonic2300.195est.896410721266-154.621.5205-578.2
Fiocchi Range Dynamics 230gr FMJ (45A)subsonic2300.195est.896410721266-154.621.5205-578.2
PMC Bronze 230gr FMJ (45A)subsonic2300.195est.896410721266-154.621.5205-578.2
PMC Starfire 230gr JHP (45SFA)subsonic2300.19est.896410717263-155.422.1202-582.8
Sellier & Bellot 230gr FMJ (SB45A)subsonic2300.195est.896410721266-154.621.5205-578.2
Sellier & Bellot 230gr JHP (SB45B)subsonic2300.19est.896410717263-155.422.1202-582.8
Sig Sauer Elite Ball 230gr FMJ (E45BA)subsonic2300.195est.896410721266-154.621.5205-578.2
Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown 230gr JHP (E45AP3)subsonic2300.19est.896410717263-155.422.1202-582.8
Tula 230gr FMJsubsonic2300.195est.886401714261-157.821.5201-589.7
Wolf Polyformance 230gr FMJsubsonic2300.195est.886401714261-157.821.5201-589.7
Black Hills 200gr Match SWC (D45N320)subsonic2000.195est.941393749249-141.721.8192-532.6
PMC Bronze 185gr JHP (45B)subsonic1850.19est.966383759237-136.322.7181-515.2
Federal Gold Medal Match 185gr FMJ-SWC (GM45B)subsonic1850.195est.846294687194-171.921.5150-640.1

75 of these are subsonic loads — they stay below ~1,125 fps and produce no sonic crack, which is why they suppress so much more effectively. See the suppressed guide.

Recompute any of this for your exact barrel, ammo, and suppressor.

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Related: .45 ACP barrel-length table · caliber comparison matrix · .45 ACP overview

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Ballistic Coefficients

Where a manufacturer publishes a ballistic coefficient we use it. Most hunting, defensive, and house-brand loads don't publish one, so those use a value typical of the bullet's construction, flagged as an estimate wherever it appears. Be aware that advertised BCs often run optimistic — some bullets measure meaningfully lower in the field than on the box, and the gap widens past roughly 600 yards as the bullet slows. Treat every trajectory here as a starting point for confirming on paper, not a substitute for it.

Exterior Ballistics

Trajectory, drop, wind drift, and energy figures are computed estimates based on a standard point-mass ballistic model and the inputs you supply. Actual performance varies with atmospheric conditions, chronograph accuracy, and firearm/ammunition variance. Verify zero and trajectory data at the range before hunting or competition use.

Reloading Data

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