Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .400 | 180gr | Hornady FMJ FP bullet and 56 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above.
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. 2² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,108 psi | 83% | 974 fps | 96.9% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,920 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 89.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,804 psi | 85% | 932 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,297 psi | 87% | 988 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,485 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,935 psi | 89% | 853 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,182 psi | 89% | 886 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,905 psi | 86% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,196 psi | 89% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,109 psi | 89% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,890 psi | 82% | 1007 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,731 psi | 82% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,934 psi | 86% | 1027 fps | 99.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,327 psi | 90% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,731 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 99% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,717 psi | 85% | 1027 fps | 99.1% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,819 psi | 88% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,253 psi | 87% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 88% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,906 psi | 89% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1050 fps | 92.4% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 88% | 1043 fps | 94.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,966 psi | 40% | 696 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,485 psi | 84% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,934 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 89.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,239 psi | 87% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,731 psi | 85% | 1001 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,761 psi | 88% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,688 psi | 85% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,151 psi | 83% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,269 psi | 90% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,137 psi | 86% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,530 psi | 90% | 1043 fps | 98.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,890 psi | 82% | 1010 fps | 93.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,876 psi | 85% | 981 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,485 psi | 84% | 1037 fps | 99.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,892 psi | 89% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,529 psi | 87% | 1135 fps | 92.9% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,934 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 89.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 997 fps | 99% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,311 psi | 84% | 958 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,022 psi | 89% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,036 psi | 86% | 873 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1037 fps | 93.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,108 psi | 86% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,747 psi | 88% | 1102 fps | 89.1% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,977 psi | 83% | 1004 fps | 98% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,050 psi | 83% | 988 fps | 99.3% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,848 psi | 88% | 1053 fps | 94.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,776 psi | 88% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,872 psi | 70% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,556 psi | 81% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,283 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,412 psi | 84% | 1033 fps | 94.2% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,803 psi | 82% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,195 psi | 83% | 984 fps | 100% |
Start Load - Barrel Length: 4"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate No. 2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,347 psi | 53% | 817 fps | 90.9% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,989 psi | 74% | 974 fps | 86.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,232 psi | 59% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,098 psi | 46% | 778 fps | 97.5% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,249 psi | 68% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,089 psi | 68% | 774 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,972 psi | 61% | 774 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,116 psi | 59% | 794 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,740 psi | 60% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,548 psi | 48% | 791 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,899 psi | 61% | 892 fps | 96.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 57% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,792 psi | 36% | 712 fps | 87.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 56% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,611 psi | 66% | 922 fps | 96.7% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,331 psi | 47% | 804 fps | 92% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,231 psi | 53% | 791 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,414 psi | 35% | 696 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,202 psi | 56% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 53% | 735 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,073 psi | 62% | 902 fps | 85.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,611 psi | 69% | 948 fps | 90.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,237 psi | 22% | 525 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,391 psi | 56% | 846 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 73% | 974 fps | 86.5% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,250 psi | 71% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,579 psi | 54% | 843 fps | 96.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,678 psi | 45% | 761 fps | 97.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,953 psi | 46% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,897 psi | 52% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 55% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 64% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,827 psi | 64% | 912 fps | 94.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,134 psi | 71% | 951 fps | 90.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,827 psi | 61% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,474 psi | 41% | 781 fps | 92.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,192 psi | 71% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 19,827 psi | 61% | 994 fps | 86.7% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,946 psi | 73% | 974 fps | 86.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 45% | 761 fps | 90.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 57% | 833 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 55% | 823 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,814 psi | 70% | 814 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,869 psi | 58% | 866 fps | 86.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,608 psi | 54% | 827 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,367 psi | 78% | 1053 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,434 psi | 53% | 840 fps | 92.5% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,433 psi | 50% | 807 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 16,795 psi | 51% | 850 fps | 85.6% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,217 psi | 56% | 823 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,211 psi | 31% | 627 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 51% | 837 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,229 psi | 47% | 791 fps | 92.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,201 psi | 50% | 837 fps | 85.3% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,047 psi | 74% | 922 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 46% | 781 fps | 96.4% |
* 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 56 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .400 | 180gr | Hornady FMJ FP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,135 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 696 fps to 1,135 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 26 of the 56 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (225 MPa), the top charges use 40–90 %, 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. As outliers, Accurate No. 5, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate No. 5, Accurate Solo 1000 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.