Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .400 | 180gr | Speer TMJ bullet and 58 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 Accurate Solo 1250.
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% | 29,370 psi | 90% | 1014 fps | 97.8% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,310 psi | 81% | 1027 fps | 88.4% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,066 psi | 89% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,022 psi | 89% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,253 psi | 84% | 846 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,587 psi | 88% | 892 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,790 psi | 88% | 935 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,673 psi | 85% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,398 psi | 84% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,761 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,326 psi | 87% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,904 psi | 79% | 1014 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,921 psi | 89% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1056 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,660 psi | 88% | 1056 fps | 99.4% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,441 psi | 84% | 948 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,513 psi | 81% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,963 psi | 83% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,037 psi | 89% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,195 psi | 86% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,746 psi | 85% | 1040 fps | 91.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,006 psi | 83% | 1033 fps | 93.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 11,313 psi | 35% | 686 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,353 psi | 81% | 1027 fps | 88.4% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,311 psi | 84% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,109 psi | 89% | 1033 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,298 psi | 90% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,601 psi | 85% | 1010 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,892 psi | 89% | 988 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,094 psi | 86% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,341 psi | 90% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,992 psi | 86% | 1037 fps | 97.9% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,572 psi | 88% | 1047 fps | 94.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,615 psi | 85% | 997 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 9,819 psi | 30% | 666 fps | 97.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,805 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,716 psi | 82% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 26,179 psi | 80% | 1119 fps | 91.8% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,353 psi | 81% | 1027 fps | 88.4% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,122 psi | 83% | 994 fps | 98.8% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,921 psi | 89% | 991 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,804 psi | 85% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,324 psi | 81% | 866 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,631 psi | 88% | 1040 fps | 93.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,658 psi | 82% | 984 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,382 psi | 81% | 1086 fps | 87.8% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,992 psi | 86% | 1033 fps | 98.5% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,282 psi | 87% | 1020 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,021 psi | 83% | 1043 fps | 93.9% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,223 psi | 80% | 951 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,987 psi | 64% | 840 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,036 psi | 86% | 1020 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,673 psi | 85% | 1017 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,500 psi | 87% | 1060 fps | 95% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,311 psi | 87% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,920 psi | 86% | 1010 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% | 15,505 psi | 48% | 797 fps | 89.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,510 psi | 69% | 965 fps | 85.6% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,521 psi | 54% | 804 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | 3.9 gr | 60% | 13,808 psi | 42% | 768 fps | 96.7% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,522 psi | 60% | 889 fps | 99.8% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 63% | 768 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,334 psi | 59% | 778 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,869 psi | 55% | 794 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,362 psi | 56% | 830 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,953 psi | 43% | 778 fps | 98.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,086 psi | 55% | 873 fps | 95.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,563 psi | 51% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 11,400 psi | 35% | 728 fps | 87% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,259 psi | 50% | 781 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,450 psi | 63% | 919 fps | 96.2% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 13,663 psi | 42% | 787 fps | 90.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 49% | 787 fps | 99.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 9,398 psi | 29% | 666 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,534 psi | 51% | 827 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,127 psi | 46% | 804 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,838 psi | 49% | 725 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,072 psi | 58% | 899 fps | 85.2% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,002 psi | 64% | 938 fps | 89.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,352 psi | 16% | 492 fps | 93.4% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,607 psi | 51% | 833 fps | 98.9% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 69% | 965 fps | 85.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,364 psi | 65% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,258 psi | 47% | 817 fps | 94.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,329 psi | 41% | 755 fps | 96.3% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,039 psi | 40% | 781 fps | 99.6% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,635 psi | 48% | 794 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,868 psi | 52% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,797 psi | 58% | 807 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 59% | 902 fps | 93.4% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,480 psi | 66% | 942 fps | 89.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,738 psi | 54% | 863 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 4,946 psi | 15% | 476 fps | 86.7% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 12,082 psi | 37% | 764 fps | 90.5% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,132 psi | 65% | 886 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 92% | 19,914 psi | 61% | 1017 fps | 87.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,466 psi | 69% | 965 fps | 85.6% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,445 psi | 41% | 751 fps | 89.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,810 psi | 52% | 817 fps | 99.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,114 psi | 49% | 804 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,234 psi | 68% | 817 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,102 psi | 59% | 889 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,505 psi | 48% | 804 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 23,177 psi | 71% | 1033 fps | 85.5% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,882 psi | 49% | 827 fps | 91.2% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,069 psi | 46% | 797 fps | 93.1% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,868 psi | 52% | 873 fps | 86% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,781 psi | 51% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,456 psi | 26% | 614 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,026 psi | 46% | 823 fps | 98.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,808 psi | 42% | 781 fps | 90.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 16,360 psi | 50% | 860 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,857 psi | 67% | 906 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,445 psi | 41% | 768 fps | 95.2% |
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 58 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .400 | 180gr | Speer TMJ. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,119 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 666 fps to 1,119 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 37 of the 58 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (225 MPa), the top charges use 30–90 %, 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, Accurate Solo 1250 rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .400 | 180gr | Speer TMJ 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.