BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .45 Super Results

ATTENTION: Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status." No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community. Thank you.

.45 Super Results in fps

.45 Super and .450 SMC (Short Magnum Cartridge) are two relatively recent variations on the classic .45 ACP cartridge. They were designed to gain more power from the cartridge than it was originally designed to produce, using modern smokeless powder and more robust case specifications. And these rounds achieve this goal, producing about 100% greater muzzle energy for a given bullet weight over standard pressure .45 ACP rounds, and about a 50% increase over .45 ACP +P (over-pressure) rounds.

This increase in velocity/energy comes with higher chamber pressure, however. The increased pressure means more stress on the firearm, resulting in increased wear and potential failure of the gun. While the .45 Super/.450 SMC cartridge will fit into any standard .45 ACP firearm, you should exercise discretion in using those cartridges, either limiting how much you use them and/or upgrading your firearm to handle the increased pressure. Be safe.

Of the 12 types of ammunition listed below, only the Double Tap ammo was the .450 SMC configuration (which is identical to the .45 Super cartridge, except that it has a small primer). All the others are .45 Super.

Click here for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.

barrel length	Buffalo Bore 185 gr. JHP	Buffalo Bore 200 gr. JHP	Buffalo Bore 230 gr. FMJ	Buffalo Bore 230 gr. JHP	Buffalo Bore 255 gr. Hard Cast	Double Tap 185 gr. JHP	Double Tap 185 gr JHP Bond. Def.	Double Tap 230 gr. JHP Bond. Def.	LeHigh Defense 170 gr. JHP	Under- wood 170 gr. CF	Under- wood 185 gr XTP JHP	Under- wood 230 gr. GD JHP
18"	1585	1459	1323	1320	1281	1657	1631	1325	1375	1496	1628	1301
16"	1608	1486	1310	1339	1279	1622	1590	1341	1371	1478	1603	1295
14"	1558	1436	1290	1313	1240	1599	1549	1334	1349	1466	1603	1295
12"	1534	1409	1265	1301	1232	1580	1531	1297	1331	1445	1565	1261
10"	1498	1397	1237	1267	1206	1559	1558	1280	1310	1409	1534	1249
9"	1467	1373	1220	1261	1189	1525	1522	1246	1290	1406	1516	1234
8"	1450	1339	1198	1249	1175	1506	1464	1233	1289	1382	1498	1204
7"	1434	1327	1170	1209	1148	1473	1422	1220	1253	1360	1467	1191
6"	1408	1288	1142	1179	1136	1442	1442	1235	1244	1333	1428	1164
5"	1348	1245	1124	1158	1100	1353	1371	1149	1213	1295	1394	1129
4"	1269	1179	1075	1107	1060	1328	1229	1105	1180	1242	1304	1090
3"	1173	1105	1005	1035	1000	1199	1117	1061	1189	1162	1210	1023

real world weapons	Buffalo Bore 185 gr. JHP	Buffalo Bore 200 gr. JHP	Buffalo Bore 230 gr. FMJ	Buffalo Bore 230 gr. JHP	Buffalo Bore 255 gr. Hard Cast	Double Tap 185 gr. JHP	Double Tap 185 gr JHP Bond. Def.	Double Tap 230 gr. JHP Bond. Def.	LeHigh Defense 170 gr. JHP	Under- wood 170 gr. CF	Under- wood 185 gr XTP JHP	Under- wood 230 gr. GD JHP
Beretta Cx4 carbine 16.6" barrel	1555	1428	1267	1289	1248	1618	1556	1298	1289	1421	1578	1264
Wilson Combat Hunter 1911 .460 5.5" barrel	1312	1216	1105	1109	1074	1350	1294	1108	1157	1259	1339	1099
Glock 21 (.460) 5.2" barrel	1299	1203	1085	1116	1061	1351	1314	1132	n/a	1253	1348	1081
Glock 21 (.45 acp) 4.6" barrel	1279	1178	1069	1094	1063	1328	1301	1097	1146	1239	1329	1075
Beretta Px4 Storm SD 4.5" barrel	1281	1171	1067	1093	1048	1339	1270	1094	n/a	1227	1311	1082
Ed Brown Kobra Carry 1911 4.25" barrel	1257	1175	1067	1084	1061	1310	1254	1136	1165	1249	1285	1071
Glock 36 3.77" barrel	1188	1113	1043	1053	1023	1264	1238	1065	1100	1188	1230	1040

Other Resources

BBTI is not the end-all of ballistics testing, just one more component available for the common good. In addition to extensive discussion about ballistics to be found at many gun forums, here are some other great resources pertaining to ballistics testing you should check out. (And if you would like to recommend a site to list here, please send an email.)

BrassFetcher: excellent resource, with an emphasis on bullet performance in ballistic gelatin
The Box O' Truth: testing ammo penetration through various barriers
Terminal Ballistics Research: Specializes in the research of cartridge & projectile performance, using hard data gathered from 20 years of hunting game.

Acknowledgements

We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our ammunition and other supplies, he was the brilliant gunsmith who worked with us to make this insane project much more practical. Without his help all of this would have been much more difficult and perhaps impossible. Anyone who uses our data owes him a debt of gratitude.

And thanks to our spouses, who were not just tolerant but enthusiastically supportive of this rather nutty project.

Disclaimer

This project, and all of its results, is only our fault. We (well, Jim K, mostly) paid for everything ourselves, and we did not receive any kind of sponsorship or remuneration from anyone. We did all the work. We used products we were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning them by name does not constitute an endorsement of any kind. Furthermore, the data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best." How you use the data is entirely up to you. And if you think you could do better, feel free to spend the money and do the work and publish your own results. Or not. Your choice.