Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .400 | 165gr | Sierra Sports Master bullet and 59 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 20, Alliant UNIQUE and Somchem MS200.
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>> | 80% | 27,514 psi | 84% | 1037 fps | 96% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,703 psi | 88% | 1109 fps | 88.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,543 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,224 psi | 83% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,515 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,296 psi | 84% | 896 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,354 psi | 84% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,472 psi | 90% | 994 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 90% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,398 psi | 87% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,064 psi | 83% | 1073 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,761 psi | 88% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,207 psi | 74% | 1037 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,485 psi | 87% | 1004 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,746 psi | 85% | 1083 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,530 psi | 90% | 1122 fps | 99% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,993 psi | 89% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,613 psi | 75% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,442 psi | 87% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,181 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,124 psi | 89% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,614 psi | 82% | 1073 fps | 89.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,356 psi | 90% | 1112 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,588 psi | 32% | 705 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,515 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 88% | 1109 fps | 88.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 89% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,050 psi | 83% | 1060 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,456 psi | 84% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,500 psi | 87% | 1079 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,254 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,455 psi | 81% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,775 psi | 85% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,107 psi | 80% | 1060 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,600 psi | 82% | 1070 fps | 91.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,543 psi | 87% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,152 psi | 28% | 679 fps | 95.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,530 psi | 90% | 1132 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,833 psi | 85% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,235 psi | 71% | 1122 fps | 88% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,660 psi | 88% | 1109 fps | 88.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,181 psi | 86% | 1056 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,253 psi | 84% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,252 psi | 80% | 1017 fps | 99.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,398 psi | 87% | 938 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,254 psi | 90% | 1096 fps | 92.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,804 psi | 85% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 89% | 1096 fps | 97.9% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,370 psi | 90% | 1086 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,413 psi | 87% | 1112 fps | 93.2% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,050 psi | 86% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,644 psi | 85% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 19,537 psi | 60% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,080 psi | 89% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,761 psi | 88% | 1083 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 29,080 psi | 89% | 1119 fps | 93.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,672 psi | 82% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,993 psi | 89% | 1115 fps | 92.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,963 psi | 83% | 1050 fps | 100% |
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*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,605 psi | 45% | 814 fps | 86.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,627 psi | 75% | 1047 fps | 85.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,592 psi | 51% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,908 psi | 40% | 784 fps | 94.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,000 psi | 58% | 925 fps | 99.2% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,653 psi | 60% | 797 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,492 psi | 57% | 810 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,911 psi | 52% | 820 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,303 psi | 53% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,068 psi | 40% | 797 fps | 97.2% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 52% | 892 fps | 93.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,635 psi | 48% | 823 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 11,487 psi | 35% | 764 fps | 85.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,085 psi | 49% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,276 psi | 59% | 938 fps | 94.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 12,749 psi | 39% | 801 fps | 87.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,968 psi | 46% | 807 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,760 psi | 27% | 679 fps | 95.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 47% | 846 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,156 psi | 43% | 820 fps | 95.3% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,113 psi | 46% | 751 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,902 psi | 70% | 1010 fps | 86.8% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,566 psi | 60% | 955 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,047 psi | 15% | 502 fps | 90.9% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,548 psi | 48% | 856 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,584 psi | 75% | 1043 fps | 85.3% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,204 psi | 62% | 909 fps | 99.8% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,866 psi | 46% | 846 fps | 92.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,488 psi | 38% | 771 fps | 94.1% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,980 psi | 37% | 797 fps | 98.3% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 45% | 817 fps | 99.1% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,896 psi | 49% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 57% | 850 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,101 psi | 55% | 922 fps | 90.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 62% | 958 fps | 86.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,317 psi | 50% | 886 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 5,134 psi | 16% | 512 fps | 85.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 11,298 psi | 35% | 774 fps | 87.1% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,725 psi | 60% | 915 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 96% | 20,566 psi | 63% | 1076 fps | 85.7% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 24,584 psi | 75% | 1043 fps | 85.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,662 psi | 39% | 768 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,882 psi | 49% | 837 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,185 psi | 47% | 823 fps | 94.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,219 psi | 65% | 850 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 19,711 psi | 60% | 942 fps | 85.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,576 psi | 45% | 823 fps | 95.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,924 psi | 46% | 843 fps | 88.4% |
| Somchem MS200*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 14,214 psi | 44% | 817 fps | 90.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,985 psi | 55% | 935 fps | 85.3% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,672 psi | 79% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,650 psi | 48% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,847 psi | 24% | 630 fps | 99.9% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,895 psi | 43% | 840 fps | 97.2% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,879 psi | 39% | 794 fps | 87.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,506 psi | 54% | 922 fps | 85.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,537 psi | 63% | 932 fps | 99.8% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,656 psi | 76% | 1047 fps | 89.5% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,560 psi | 38% | 784 fps | 92.8% |
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 29 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .400 | 165gr | Sierra Sports Master. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,132 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 679 fps to 1,132 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 29 of the 29 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (225 MPa), the top charges use 28–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Alliant Herco, Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol, Hodgdon TrailBoss 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. ReloadSwiss RS 20, Alliant UNIQUE, Somchem MS200 rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .400 | 165gr | Sierra Sports Master they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2, Vihtavuori 3N37, Vihtavuori N350 burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate Solo 1250, ADI AS 30, Alliant BE-86 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.