Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .400 | 180gr | Hornady SWC bullet and 60 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20 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% | 27,659 psi | 85% | 1001 fps | 97.3% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,834 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 90.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,645 psi | 88% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,340 psi | 87% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,037 psi | 89% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,180 psi | 83% | 856 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,442 psi | 87% | 899 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,789 psi | 82% | 925 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 88% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,298 psi | 90% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,166 psi | 83% | 1033 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,311 psi | 87% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,468 psi | 75% | 1007 fps | 98.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,021 psi | 86% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,891 psi | 85% | 1043 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,327 psi | 90% | 1079 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,921 psi | 89% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,382 psi | 78% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,384 psi | 87% | 997 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,760 psi | 85% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,051 psi | 89% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,658 psi | 82% | 1037 fps | 91.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 25,991 psi | 80% | 1030 fps | 93.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,631 psi | 30% | 663 fps | 99.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,037 psi | 89% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 90.1% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,832 psi | 82% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,948 psi | 83% | 1017 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,471 psi | 87% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,443 psi | 90% | 1043 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,166 psi | 83% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,499 psi | 84% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,702 psi | 85% | 928 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,021 psi | 83% | 1033 fps | 97.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,470 psi | 84% | 1043 fps | 93.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,341 psi | 90% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,340 psi | 26% | 646 fps | 95.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,920 psi | 86% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,282 psi | 84% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 24,105 psi | 74% | 1099 fps | 90.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,819 psi | 88% | 1073 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,225 psi | 90% | 1030 fps | 99.3% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,253 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,166 psi | 83% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,427 psi | 87% | 899 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 26,731 psi | 82% | 1024 fps | 92.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,660 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,384 psi | 87% | 1125 fps | 89.4% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,905 psi | 82% | 1030 fps | 98.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,225 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,601 psi | 88% | 1076 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,196 psi | 89% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,776 psi | 88% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,884 psi | 58% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,356 psi | 90% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,790 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 96% | 27,456 psi | 84% | 1056 fps | 94.6% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,572 psi | 84% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 29,153 psi | 89% | 1076 fps | 93.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,760 psi | 82% | 1007 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% | 14,866 psi | 46% | 794 fps | 88.6% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,411 psi | 78% | 1024 fps | 88% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,056 psi | 52% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,357 psi | 38% | 748 fps | 95.4% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,173 psi | 56% | 883 fps | 99.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,392 psi | 62% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,217 psi | 56% | 771 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,128 psi | 49% | 781 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,520 psi | 51% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,952 psi | 40% | 771 fps | 98.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,463 psi | 54% | 873 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 48% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 10,965 psi | 34% | 735 fps | 86.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,287 psi | 47% | 781 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,812 psi | 61% | 919 fps | 96% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 12,415 psi | 38% | 774 fps | 88.8% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,402 psi | 44% | 771 fps | 99.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,325 psi | 26% | 653 fps | 96.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,837 psi | 45% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,120 psi | 74% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 47% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,610 psi | 63% | 942 fps | 86.9% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,247 psi | 59% | 919 fps | 88.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 3,916 psi | 12% | 456 fps | 87.7% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,591 psi | 45% | 810 fps | 98% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,367 psi | 78% | 1024 fps | 88% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,900 psi | 64% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,199 psi | 44% | 807 fps | 93.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,864 psi | 36% | 735 fps | 94.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,124 psi | 34% | 755 fps | 98.6% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,170 psi | 43% | 778 fps | 99.5% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,432 psi | 47% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,246 psi | 56% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 54% | 886 fps | 92.2% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,494 psi | 63% | 935 fps | 89.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,461 psi | 47% | 840 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 4,583 psi | 14% | 499 fps | 85.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 10,718 psi | 33% | 741 fps | 88.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,840 psi | 58% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 17,970 psi | 55% | 991 fps | 85.3% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 25,367 psi | 78% | 1024 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,140 psi | 37% | 732 fps | 88% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 49% | 814 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,418 psi | 47% | 804 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,016 psi | 64% | 810 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 18,115 psi | 56% | 883 fps | 86% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,591 psi | 45% | 801 fps | 97.1% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 24,874 psi | 76% | 1073 fps | 87% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,823 psi | 45% | 820 fps | 90.3% |
| Somchem MS200*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 13,489 psi | 41% | 778 fps | 91.5% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 17,637 psi | 54% | 899 fps | 87.1% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,396 psi | 78% | 879 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,084 psi | 46% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,773 psi | 21% | 587 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,387 psi | 41% | 804 fps | 97.9% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,227 psi | 37% | 758 fps | 89% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 80% | 17,187 psi | 53% | 889 fps | 87% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,060 psi | 65% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,527 psi | 78% | 1024 fps | 91.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,763 psi | 36% | 745 fps | 93.4% |
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 60 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .400 | 180gr | Hornady SWC. SNPE Vectan SP 2 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,125 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 646 fps to 1,125 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 40 of the 60 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. 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. Alliant UNIQUE, ReloadSwiss RS 20, Somchem MS200 rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .400 | 180gr | Hornady SWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. 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.