AmmoSight

.45 ACP Trajectory Calculator

See how .45 ACP stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every handgun caliber side by side.

The .45 ACP is a heavy-hitting subsonic cartridge with over a century of proven performance. With a 230-grain bullet at 837 fps and a 25-yard zero, expect about 2.7 inches of drop at 50 yards, 8.8 inches at 75 yards, and 18.3 inches at 100 yards. The big bore delivers 358 ft-lbs at the muzzle and retains 311 ft-lbs at 100 yards—the subsonic velocity keeps energy transfer consistent across typical defensive distances.

Use the calculator to match your specific load. Click "Modify Calculation" to enter your bullet weight, muzzle velocity, and ballistic coefficient. The .45 ACP ranges from 185-grain +P loads to 230-grain standard pressure rounds, each with different trajectories. You can also factor in wind and atmospheric conditions.

.45 ACP Trajectory Chart

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.45 ACP Ballistics Data

Range (yd) Elevation (in) Elevation (MOA) Elevation (MIL) Windage (in) Windage (MOA) Windage (MIL) Time (s) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lbs)
0 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.001 837.0 357.88
5 -0.14 2.52 0.732 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.019 833.86 355.2
10 0.09 -0.84 -0.243 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.037 830.85 352.64
15 0.19 -1.19 -0.345 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.055 827.87 350.11
20 0.16 -0.76 -0.222 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.073 824.9 347.61
25 0.01 -0.02 -0.007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.092 821.97 345.14
30 -0.28 0.88 0.256 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.11 819.05 342.7
35 -0.69 1.88 0.546 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.128 816.16 340.28
40 -1.23 2.93 0.854 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.147 813.3 337.89
45 -1.91 4.04 1.174 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.165 810.45 335.54
50 -2.72 5.17 1.504 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.184 807.63 333.2
55 -3.66 6.33 1.841 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.202 804.82 330.88
60 -4.73 7.51 2.184 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.221 802.02 328.59
65 -5.94 8.7 2.532 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.24 799.25 326.33
70 -7.29 9.92 2.884 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.259 796.5 324.08
75 -8.77 11.14 3.24 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.277 793.76 321.86
80 -10.39 12.37 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.296 791.05 319.66
85 -12.15 13.62 3.962 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.315 788.35 317.48
90 -14.05 14.88 4.327 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.334 785.66 315.32
95 -16.09 16.14 4.695 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.353 783.0 313.19
100 -18.27 17.42 5.066 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.373 780.35 311.07

Take this table to the range

The .45 ACP reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.

Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.

Customize this card

Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.

Available .45 ACP Ammunition Ballistics

Product Velocity (fps) BC 25yd Drop 50yd Drop 75yd Drop 100yd Drop
Ammo Inc Signature Series .45 ACP 230gr TMC Ballistics 890 0.185 0.0" -2.4" -7.7" -16.1"
Armscor .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 849 0.185 0.0" -2.6" -8.5" -17.8"
CCI Blazer .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 830 0.156 0.0" -2.8" -9.0" -18.9"
CCI Blazer Aluminum .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ballistics 845 0.156 0.0" -2.7" -8.7" -18.2"
Federal American Eagle .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 890 0.195 0.0" -2.4" -7.7" -16.1"
Federal Gold Medal .45 ACP 185gr FMJ-SWC Ammo Ballistics 770 0.071 0.0" -3.5" -11.4" -24.1"
Federal HST .45 ACP 230gr JHP Ammo Ballistics 890 0.19 0.0" -2.4" -7.7" -16.1"
Fiocchi Training Dynamics .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ballistics 860 0.184 0.0" -2.6" -8.3" -17.3"
Hornady Critical Defense .45 ACP 185gr FTX Ammo Ballistics 900 0.14 0.0" -2.3" -7.7" -16.1"
Hornady Critical Duty .45 ACP +P 220gr FlexLock Ammo Ballistics 975 0.18 0.0" -1.9" -6.3" -13.4"
Hornady Custom .45 ACP 200gr XTP Ammo Ballistics 900 0.151 0.0" -2.3" -7.6" -16.0"
Independence Brass .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 830 0.185 0.0" -2.8" -8.9" -18.6"
Magtech .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ballistics 837 0.194 0.0" -2.7" -8.8" -18.3"
New Republic .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 830 0.156 0.0" -2.8" -9.0" -18.9"
Norma Range & Training .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 853 0.195 0.0" -2.6" -8.4" -17.5"
PMC 45 ACP Bronze 230gr FMJ Pistol Ammo Ballistics 830 0.133 0.0" -2.8" -9.1" -19.1"
Remington Ammunition UMC .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 835 0.161 0.0" -2.8" -8.9" -18.6"
Sellier & Bellot .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 853 0.213 0.0" -2.6" -8.4" -17.5"
Speer Gold Dot .45 ACP 185gr JHP Ammo Ballistics 1050 0.109 0.0" -1.7" -5.8" -12.4"
Speer Gold Dot Carry Gun .45 ACP +P 200gr JHP Ammo Ballistics 1080 0.138 0.0" -1.5" -5.3" -11.4"
Speer Lawman .45 ACP 230gr TMJ Ammo Ballistics 830 0.153 0.0" -2.8" -9.0" -18.9"
Winchester .45 ACP 185gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 910 0.145 0.0" -2.3" -7.5" -15.7"
Winchester .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo Ballistics 835 0.163 0.0" -2.7" -8.9" -18.6"

Zeroing the .45 ACP

Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 230gr G1 .194 at 837 fps, with a 0.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). Handgun zeros are short because the sight sits close to the bore and the bullet arcs little inside 50 yards; the choice is really about where you want the crossover. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.

.45 ACP zero comparison

.45 ACP 230gr reference load zero comparison at 0.5" sight height over bore
10-yd zero 15-yd zero 25-yd zero
Near zero 10 yd 13 yd 8 yd
Far zero 20 yd 15 yd 25 yd
Max ordinate +0.1" 0.0" +0.2"
Max ordinate distance 15 yd 14 yd 16 yd
Hold-dead-on window (4" vital zone, ±2") 0–42 yd 0–41 yd 0–45 yd
Sight in at 25 yd -0.2" (-0.9 MOA) -0.3" (-1.2 MOA) +0.0" (+0.0 MOA)
Drop at 50 yd -3.2" -3.3" -2.7"
Drop at 100 yd -19.2" -19.5" -18.3"
Energy at 50 yd 333 ft-lb 333 ft-lb 333 ft-lb
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How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 4" vital zone, ±2" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 100 yards.

Key terms

Near zero
Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
Far zero
Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
Max ordinate
The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
Point blank range (MPBR)
The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.

.45 ACP with a 10-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 10 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 230gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 10 yards, peaks +0.1" at 15 yards, crosses back down at 20 yards, and is -3.2" at 50 and -19.2" at 100 yards. This load is subsonic from the muzzle.

Download CSV
.45 ACP 230gr reference load, 10-yard zero, 0.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -0.5" 0.00 0.00 837 358 0.1
5 -0.2" -3.39 -0.99 834 355 0.1
10 0.0" -0.03 -0.01 831 353 0.1
15 +0.1" +0.32 +0.09 828 350 0.2
20 0.0" -0.11 -0.03 825 348 0.2
25 -0.2" -0.85 -0.25 822 345 0.3
30 -0.6" -1.75 -0.51 819 343 0.3
35 -1.0" -2.75 -0.80 816 340 0.4
40 -1.6" -3.81 -1.11 813 338 0.5
45 -2.3" -4.91 -1.43 810 336 0.6
50 -3.2" -6.04 -1.76 808 333 0.7
55 -4.2" -7.20 -2.09 805 331 0.8
60 -5.3" -8.38 -2.44 802 329 0.9
65 -6.5" -9.58 -2.79 799 326 1.1
70 -7.9" -10.79 -3.14 797 324 1.2
75 -9.5" -12.01 -3.49 794 322 1.4
80 -11.1" -13.25 -3.85 791 320 1.6
85 -12.9" -14.49 -4.22 788 317 1.8
90 -14.9" -15.75 -4.58 786 315 2.0
95 -17.0" -17.01 -4.95 783 313 2.2
100 -19.2" -18.29 -5.32 780 311 2.4

230gr G1 .194 at 837 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross.

.45 ACP with a 15-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 15 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 230gr load first crosses the line of sight at 13 yards, peaks 0.0" at 14 yards, returns to zero at 15, and is -3.3" at 50 and -19.5" at 100 yards. This load is subsonic from the muzzle.

Download CSV
.45 ACP 230gr reference load, 15-yard zero, 0.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -0.5" 0.00 0.00 837 358 0.1
5 -0.2" -3.69 -1.07 834 355 0.1
10 0.0" -0.34 -0.10 831 353 0.1
15 0.0" +0.01 0.00 828 350 0.2
20 -0.1" -0.42 -0.12 825 348 0.2
25 -0.3" -1.16 -0.34 822 345 0.3
30 -0.7" -2.06 -0.60 819 343 0.3
35 -1.1" -3.05 -0.89 816 340 0.4
40 -1.7" -4.11 -1.20 813 338 0.5
45 -2.5" -5.22 -1.52 810 336 0.6
50 -3.3" -6.35 -1.85 808 333 0.7
55 -4.3" -7.51 -2.18 805 331 0.8
60 -5.5" -8.69 -2.53 802 329 0.9
65 -6.7" -9.88 -2.88 799 326 1.1
70 -8.2" -11.09 -3.23 797 324 1.2
75 -9.7" -12.32 -3.58 794 322 1.4
80 -11.4" -13.55 -3.94 791 320 1.6
85 -13.2" -14.80 -4.31 788 317 1.8
90 -15.2" -16.06 -4.67 786 315 2.0
95 -17.3" -17.32 -5.04 783 313 2.2
100 -19.5" -18.59 -5.41 780 311 2.4

230gr G1 .194 at 837 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross.

.45 ACP with a 25-Yard Zero

Zeroed at 25 yards with a 0.5" sight height, the 230gr load first crosses the line of sight at 8 yards, peaks +0.2" at 16 yards, returns to zero at 25, and is -2.7" at 50 and -18.3" at 100 yards. This load is subsonic from the muzzle.

Download CSV
.45 ACP 230gr reference load, 25-yard zero, 0.5" sight height over bore
Range (yd) Drop (in) Drop (MOA) Drop (MIL) Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) Wind drift, 10 mph (in)
0 -0.5" 0.00 0.00 837 358 0.1
5 -0.1" -2.52 -0.73 834 355 0.1
10 +0.1" +0.84 +0.24 831 353 0.1
15 +0.2" +1.19 +0.35 828 350 0.2
20 +0.2" +0.76 +0.22 825 348 0.2
25 +0.0" +0.02 +0.01 822 345 0.3
30 -0.3" -0.88 -0.26 819 343 0.3
35 -0.7" -1.88 -0.55 816 340 0.4
40 -1.2" -2.93 -0.85 813 338 0.5
45 -1.9" -4.04 -1.17 810 336 0.6
50 -2.7" -5.17 -1.50 808 333 0.7
55 -3.7" -6.33 -1.84 805 331 0.8
60 -4.7" -7.51 -2.18 802 329 0.9
65 -5.9" -8.70 -2.53 799 326 1.1
70 -7.3" -9.92 -2.88 796 324 1.2
75 -8.8" -11.14 -3.24 794 322 1.4
80 -10.4" -12.37 -3.60 791 320 1.6
85 -12.2" -13.62 -3.96 788 317 1.8
90 -14.1" -14.88 -4.33 786 315 2.0
95 -16.1" -16.14 -4.70 783 313 2.2
100 -18.3" -17.42 -5.07 780 311 2.4

230gr G1 .194 at 837 fps, 0.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. This load is subsonic from the muzzle, so there is no transonic zone to cross.

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Stock Up On .45 ACP Ammo for the Range

PRODUCT PRICE/RD
CCI Blazer .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo
Sold by: Sentry Ammo
$0.37
1000 Rounds
PMC 45 ACP Bronze 230gr FMJ Pistol Ammo
Sold by: Fast Ammo
$0.38
1000 Rounds
Magtech .45 ACP 230gr FMJ
Sold by: Sentry Ammo
$0.39
1000 Rounds
Sellier & Bellot .45 ACP 230gr FMJ Ammo
$0.39
1000 Rounds
CCI Blazer Aluminum .45 ACP 230gr FMJ
$0.40
1000 Rounds
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