Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .401 | 155gr | Rim Rock SWC Top Shelf bullet and 56 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 SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2.
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% | 26,469 psi | 81% | 1063 fps | 94.8% |
| Accurate Solo 1000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,832 psi | 82% | 1027 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 92% | 29,153 psi | 89% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,240 psi | 90% | 955 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 76% | 26,861 psi | 82% | 958 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,732 psi | 88% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,340 psi | 87% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,963 psi | 86% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,008 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 98.8% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,905 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,786 psi | 73% | 1073 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,760 psi | 85% | 1037 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,731 psi | 82% | 1112 fps | 97.5% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,268 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 98.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,007 psi | 86% | 1050 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 23,467 psi | 72% | 1017 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,818 psi | 85% | 1076 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,731 psi | 82% | 1093 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,500 psi | 87% | 978 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,269 psi | 90% | 1152 fps | 90% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,601 psi | 88% | 1142 fps | 91.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 10,341 psi | 32% | 725 fps | 99.3% |
| Hodgdon Universal | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,369 psi | 87% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,050 psi | 86% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,848 psi | 88% | 1125 fps | 99.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,254 psi | 90% | 1106 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,166 psi | 83% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,240 psi | 90% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,689 psi | 88% | 1066 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,298 psi | 90% | 1030 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,167 psi | 89% | 1145 fps | 96.7% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,049 psi | 80% | 1099 fps | 90.3% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,543 psi | 87% | 1089 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,326 psi | 87% | 1109 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 8,949 psi | 27% | 699 fps | 94.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 96% | 29,037 psi | 89% | 1171 fps | 99.6% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,760 psi | 82% | 1056 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,847 psi | 85% | 1093 fps | 97.7% |
| SNPE Vectan A1 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,195 psi | 83% | 1063 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,790 psi | 88% | 1093 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,862 psi | 85% | 971 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,514 psi | 87% | 1125 fps | 90.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,630 psi | 85% | 1093 fps | 100% |
| Somchem MP200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,500 psi | 87% | 1132 fps | 97.2% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,166 psi | 86% | 1112 fps | 98.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,861 psi | 82% | 1132 fps | 91.3% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 64% | 27,412 psi | 84% | 981 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,643 psi | 82% | 1053 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 18,782 psi | 58% | 896 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,688 psi | 85% | 1115 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 88% | 27,485 psi | 84% | 1106 fps | 98% |
| Vihtavuori N350*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,355 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 92.5% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 72% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 1102 fps | 100% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,456 psi | 87% | 1148 fps | 90.9% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 92% | 28,268 psi | 87% | 1109 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% | 16,230 psi | 50% | 879 fps | 87.2% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,389 psi | 50% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,618 psi | 39% | 807 fps | 93.3% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,434 psi | 56% | 951 fps | 98.6% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,537 psi | 60% | 830 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,304 psi | 56% | 840 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,679 psi | 51% | 850 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,955 psi | 52% | 883 fps | 99.9% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,647 psi | 39% | 817 fps | 96.1% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,578 psi | 51% | 919 fps | 91.9% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,403 psi | 47% | 853 fps | 99.7% |
| Alliant Herco*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 12,415 psi | 38% | 823 fps | 85.8% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,142 psi | 46% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,681 psi | 57% | 961 fps | 92.8% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 12,401 psi | 38% | 820 fps | 85.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,634 psi | 45% | 833 fps | 98.7% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 8,543 psi | 26% | 699 fps | 94.6% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 45% | 869 fps | 99.4% |
| Hodgdon CFE Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,380 psi | 72% | 1040 fps | 99.2% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,026 psi | 46% | 784 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 22,423 psi | 69% | 1040 fps | 85.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 21,828 psi | 67% | 1033 fps | 87.2% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 5,047 psi | 15% | 522 fps | 89.8% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,156 psi | 46% | 879 fps | 96.6% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,711 psi | 60% | 935 fps | 99.4% |
| Lovex S020*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,344 psi | 44% | 866 fps | 91.4% |
| Maxam CSB 1*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,212 psi | 37% | 794 fps | 92.9% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,574 psi | 35% | 820 fps | 97.4% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,388 psi | 44% | 843 fps | 98.5% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,592 psi | 48% | 860 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,434 psi | 53% | 866 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 53% | 938 fps | 89% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,769 psi | 61% | 988 fps | 85.4% |
| Ramshot Zip² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,787 psi | 76% | 1040 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,722 psi | 48% | 912 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 5,323 psi | 16% | 545 fps | 85.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.5 gr | 60% | 10,994 psi | 34% | 794 fps | 85.2% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,029 psi | 58% | 945 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,372 psi | 38% | 787 fps | 85.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,461 psi | 47% | 863 fps | 97.5% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,779 psi | 45% | 846 fps | 93.4% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,030 psi | 61% | 869 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 88% | 21,263 psi | 65% | 1007 fps | 85.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2*² | 4.3 gr | 60% | 14,228 psi | 44% | 846 fps | 94.7% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,475 psi | 44% | 866 fps | 86.8% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,808 psi | 42% | 837 fps | 89% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 80% | 19,493 psi | 60% | 1001 fps | 85.7% |
| Vihtavuori N310² | <<locked>> | 60% | 25,121 psi | 77% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,200 psi | 47% | 869 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,745 psi | 24% | 653 fps | 99.6% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 13,460 psi | 41% | 863 fps | 96.1% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,502 psi | 38% | 814 fps | 86.3% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,465 psi | 63% | 1017 fps | 87% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,682 psi | 63% | 974 fps | 99.6% |
| Winchester 572*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,308 psi | 74% | 1079 fps | 88.2% |
| Winchester AutoComp *² | <<locked>> | 60% | 12,154 psi | 37% | 804 fps | 91.3% |
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 56 powders for .40 S&W loaded with the .401 | 155gr | Rim Rock SWC Top Shelf. ReloadSwiss RS 20 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,171 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 699 fps to 1,171 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 40 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 27–90 %, 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, SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .401 | 155gr | Rim Rock SWC Top Shelf they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. As outliers, Accurate No. 2, Hodgdon HS-6, Hodgdon Longshot 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.