Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .401 | 145gr | LEE Mold 401-145-SWC bullet and 57 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 Vihtavuori N340.
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>> | 84% | 29,008 psi | 89% | 1168 fps | 95.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,153 psi | 89% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 1168 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,977 psi | 83% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,645 psi | 88% | 1014 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,935 psi | 89% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,775 psi | 85% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,948 psi | 83% | 1119 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,267 psi | 84% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,514 psi | 87% | 1211 fps | 98.5% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,341 psi | 90% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,539 psi | 69% | 1119 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,877 psi | 88% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,223 psi | 80% | 1171 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,441 psi | 84% | 1207 fps | 97.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,528 psi | 84% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,887 psi | 70% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,397 psi | 81% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,399 psi | 90% | 1201 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,239 psi | 87% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,950 psi | 89% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,253 psi | 87% | 1207 fps | 89.1% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,789 psi | 85% | 1204 fps | 91.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,659 psi | 27% | 735 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,977 psi | 83% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,021 psi | 86% | 1132 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,427 psi | 87% | 1191 fps | 99.2% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,109 psi | 89% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1211 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,862 psi | 85% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,702 psi | 85% | 1125 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,761 psi | 88% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,166 psi | 86% | 1201 fps | 96.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,399 psi | 90% | 1220 fps | 92.1% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,746 psi | 85% | 1152 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,905 psi | 82% | 1165 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 7,411 psi | 23% | 705 fps | 91% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 96% | 28,181 psi | 86% | 1230 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,398 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,789 psi | 82% | 1145 fps | 97.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,877 psi | 88% | 1155 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,760 psi | 85% | 1145 fps | 99.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,919 psi | 82% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,717 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 90.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,327 psi | 90% | 1188 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,644 psi | 85% | 1191 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,760 psi | 85% | 1178 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,370 psi | 90% | 1240 fps | 92.5% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,282 psi | 84% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 17,390 psi | 53% | 938 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 26,658 psi | 82% | 1175 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 26,963 psi | 83% | 1168 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 27,746 psi | 85% | 1211 fps | 92% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,660 psi | 88% | 1161 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,383 psi | 84% | 1204 fps | 90.1% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,934 psi | 86% | 1175 fps | 99.9% |
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>> | 64% | 15,592 psi | 48% | 925 fps | 86.1% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 48% | 906 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,618 psi | 36% | 837 fps | 91.6% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,418 psi | 50% | 974 fps | 97.3% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,695 psi | 57% | 876 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,274 psi | 53% | 879 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,055 psi | 46% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,737 psi | 48% | 922 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant BE-86*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,690 psi | 36% | 850 fps | 94.7% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,172 psi | 50% | 968 fps | 91.1% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,243 psi | 44% | 889 fps | 99.2% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 12,285 psi | 38% | 879 fps | 85.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,301 psi | 44% | 883 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,956 psi | 55% | 1010 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 5.1 gr | 64% | 12,850 psi | 39% | 899 fps | 85.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,605 psi | 42% | 869 fps | 97.9% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,397 psi | 23% | 712 fps | 91.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,793 psi | 42% | 906 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,176 psi | 68% | 1089 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,112 psi | 43% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HP38² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,353 psi | 78% | 1112 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 24,540 psi | 75% | 1145 fps | 86.7% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 20,842 psi | 64% | 1079 fps | 86.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 4,395 psi | 13% | 551 fps | 86.2% |
| Hodgdon Universal*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,474 psi | 41% | 902 fps | 94.8% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,348 psi | 59% | 994 fps | 99.2% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,778 psi | 39% | 886 fps | 88.9% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,139 psi | 34% | 820 fps | 91% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,124 psi | 31% | 837 fps | 95.2% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,850 psi | 39% | 863 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,765 psi | 45% | 902 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,795 psi | 51% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,592 psi | 51% | 984 fps | 87.8% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 22,089 psi | 68% | 1099 fps | 87.2% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,294 psi | 74% | 1099 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,837 psi | 42% | 935 fps | 99.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14* | <<locked>> | 88% | 5,889 psi | 18% | 640 fps | 86.5% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 5.3 gr | 64% | 11,473 psi | 35% | 866 fps | 85.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,651 psi | 54% | 988 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 12,734 psi | 39% | 856 fps | 85.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,808 psi | 45% | 906 fps | 96.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,170 psi | 43% | 889 fps | 92.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,667 psi | 60% | 922 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 22,771 psi | 70% | 1099 fps | 86.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,489 psi | 41% | 889 fps | 93.7% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 15,418 psi | 47% | 951 fps | 87.6% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,502 psi | 38% | 863 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 84% | 21,074 psi | 65% | 1099 fps | 86.8% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,047 psi | 74% | 1007 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,098 psi | 43% | 909 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,280 psi | 19% | 656 fps | 97.6% |
| Vihtavuori N330*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,633 psi | 39% | 902 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | 5.3 gr | 64% | 13,169 psi | 40% | 889 fps | 86.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 88% | 19,609 psi | 60% | 1063 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,682 psi | 60% | 1020 fps | 99.2% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,554 psi | 72% | 1135 fps | 87.3% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,081 psi | 34% | 830 fps | 89.2% |
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 57 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .401 | 145gr | LEE Mold 401-145-SWC. Vihtavuori 3N37 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,240 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 705 fps to 1,240 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 41 of the 57 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (225 MPa), the top charges use 23–90 %, 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, Vihtavuori N340 rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .401 | 145gr | LEE Mold 401-145-SWC they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot, Ramshot True Blue burn incompletely and react more sensitively to barrel length and temperature. Accurate No. 2, Accurate Solo 1000, Accurate Solo 1250 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.