Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .400 | 100gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense bullet and 53 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Vihtavuori N330, Hodgdon Universal and ReloadSwiss RS 12.
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: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,803 psi | 82% | 1339 fps | 87.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,283 psi | 90% | 1371 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 1407 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AP 70N | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,355 psi | 87% | 1430 fps | 98.5% |
| ADI APS 350 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,022 psi | 89% | 1250 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,891 psi | 85% | 1270 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,660 psi | 88% | 1342 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,340 psi | 87% | 1381 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,428 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,543 psi | 87% | 1444 fps | 93.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,963 psi | 86% | 1378 fps | 100% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,471 psi | 87% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol* | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,137 psi | 83% | 1414 fps | 91.6% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,498 psi | 81% | 1421 fps | 91.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,253 psi | 84% | 1345 fps | 99.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,913 psi | 58% | 1217 fps | 98.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,093 psi | 83% | 1375 fps | 99.9% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,616 psi | 88% | 1421 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,166 psi | 86% | 1276 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,774 psi | 82% | 1365 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,225 psi | 90% | 1368 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,485 psi | 26% | 850 fps | 91.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,601 psi | 85% | 1417 fps | 98.3% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex S011 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,805 psi | 88% | 1378 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex S020* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,166 psi | 86% | 1421 fps | 94.5% |
| Maxam CSB 1ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,657 psi | 79% | 1352 fps | 96.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,961 psi | 76% | 1404 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,369 psi | 84% | 1378 fps | 99.7% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,470 psi | 84% | 1365 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,805 psi | 88% | 1345 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,979 psi | 89% | 1440 fps | 89.9% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,353 psi | 81% | 1362 fps | 98.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,109 psi | 89% | 1463 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,860 psi | 76% | 1398 fps | 92.6% |
| Rottweil P 801 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,486 psi | 90% | 1424 fps | 100% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,283 psi | 90% | 1378 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,457 psi | 90% | 1457 fps | 94.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,731 psi | 82% | 1358 fps | 91% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,658 psi | 82% | 1352 fps | 98.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,645 psi | 88% | 1388 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,819 psi | 88% | 1286 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,385 psi | 90% | 1427 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MP200* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,485 psi | 84% | 1411 fps | 90.2% |
| Somchem MS200* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,195 psi | 83% | 1391 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,805 psi | 88% | 1316 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,601 psi | 88% | 1407 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 14,837 psi | 45% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,399 psi | 90% | 1467 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N340*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,312 psi | 90% | 1434 fps | 93% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,353 psi | 81% | 1362 fps | 98.1% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1414 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester AutoComp ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,557 psi | 84% | 1398 fps | 96.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,163 psi | 74% | 1286 fps | 85.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,982 psi | 43% | 1030 fps | 95.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 13,068 psi | 40% | 1037 fps | 86% |
| ADI AP 70N*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 46% | 1106 fps | 89.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,549 psi | 51% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 49% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,851 psi | 42% | 1020 fps | 98.9% |
| ADI AS 50N*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,359 psi | 44% | 1056 fps | 94.8% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,588 psi | 32% | 958 fps | 85.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 19,160 psi | 59% | 1230 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,213 psi | 40% | 1020 fps | 93.6% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,155 psi | 40% | 1017 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 19,522 psi | 60% | 1237 fps | 85.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE* | <<locked>> | 84% | 18,797 psi | 58% | 1237 fps | 85.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,212 psi | 37% | 981 fps | 90.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 8,180 psi | 25% | 860 fps | 85.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,140 psi | 37% | 1020 fps | 91.6% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 14,504 psi | 44% | 1089 fps | 87.4% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,778 psi | 39% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,856 psi | 64% | 1243 fps | 96.3% |
| Hodgdon TiteGroup² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,744 psi | 79% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 6,135 psi | 19% | 722 fps | 85.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal*² | 4.6 gr | 60% | 12,546 psi | 38% | 1024 fps | 86.3% |
| Lovex D032² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,353 psi | 78% | 1309 fps | 95.1% |
| Lovex S011*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,752 psi | 51% | 1119 fps | 92.7% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,085 psi | 49% | 1145 fps | 85.1% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 13,590 psi | 42% | 1050 fps | 87% |
| Maxam CSB 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,224 psi | 28% | 945 fps | 85.9% |
| Maxam CSB 3*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,980 psi | 37% | 991 fps | 90% |
| Maxam CSB 4*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,024 psi | 40% | 1024 fps | 94.6% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,489 psi | 44% | 1060 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 22,727 psi | 70% | 1312 fps | 85.5% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 63% | 1240 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12*² | 4.8 gr | 60% | 11,995 psi | 37% | 1060 fps | 94.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20* | <<locked>> | 88% | 18,594 psi | 57% | 1243 fps | 87% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,374 psi | 47% | 1135 fps | 99.2% |
| Shooters World Clean Shot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,353 psi | 78% | 1309 fps | 95.1% |
| Shooters World Ultimate Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,556 psi | 78% | 1381 fps | 92.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,784 psi | 64% | 1230 fps | 86.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,213 psi | 40% | 1020 fps | 88.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 15,882 psi | 49% | 1099 fps | 87% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,303 psi | 53% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 13,518 psi | 41% | 1047 fps | 86.3% |
| Somchem MP200* | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,856 psi | 64% | 1263 fps | 85.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,550 psi | 54% | 1165 fps | 85.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 62% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,140 psi | 37% | 1024 fps | 93.9% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,643 psi | 20% | 771 fps | 92.6% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | 5.2 gr | 64% | 12,386 psi | 38% | 1050 fps | 86.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,682 psi | 60% | 1234 fps | 86.3% |
| Winchester 231*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,984 psi | 52% | 1148 fps | 92.5% |
| Winchester 244² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 71% | 1293 fps | 98% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 72% | 14,040 psi | 43% | 1073 fps | 85.8% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
* not dangerous but load has suboptimal powder burnt with possible characteristics such as extensive muzzle flash or inaccurate loads.
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 37 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .400 | 100gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense. Vihtavuori N330 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,467 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 850 fps to 1,467 fps. Accurate Solo 1250 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 37 of the 37 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (225 MPa), the top charges use 26–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Accurate Solo 1250, Alliant BE-86, Alliant UNIQUE 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. Vihtavuori N330, Hodgdon Universal, ReloadSwiss RS 12 rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .400 | 100gr | Lehigh Defense Xtreme Defense they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Alliant BULLSEYE, Alliant UNIQUE, Hodgdon TrailBoss burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star 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.