Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .40 S&W with .401 | 180gr | LOS RNFP 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, SNPE Vectan A0 and Alliant Herco.
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% | 27,717 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 97.2% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,282 psi | 87% | 1043 fps | 89.5% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 87% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,891 psi | 85% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,108 psi | 83% | 984 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 72% | 28,543 psi | 87% | 853 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,717 psi | 85% | 873 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,557 psi | 84% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 72% | 26,774 psi | 82% | 935 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86 | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,905 psi | 82% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,485 psi | 84% | 1017 fps | 99.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,501 psi | 90% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Hercoᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,398 psi | 87% | 1033 fps | 99.3% |
| Alliant RED DOT | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,906 psi | 89% | 942 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,282 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 99% |
| Alliant UNIQUE | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,239 psi | 87% | 1033 fps | 99.2% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,443 psi | 90% | 958 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistolᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,674 psi | 88% | 974 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 76% | 29,225 psi | 90% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays | <<locked>> | 80% | 26,426 psi | 81% | 856 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,600 psi | 82% | 1014 fps | 91% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,109 psi | 89% | 1050 fps | 94.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,894 psi | 40% | 696 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,065 psi | 86% | 994 fps | 100% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 86% | 1043 fps | 89.5% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 68% | 28,906 psi | 89% | 968 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,238 psi | 83% | 997 fps | 99.8% |
| Maxam CSB 1 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,297 psi | 87% | 984 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 2 | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,354 psi | 84% | 991 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,717 psi | 85% | 961 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,789 psi | 85% | 945 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,760 psi | 85% | 909 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette² | <<locked>> | 68% | 26,498 psi | 81% | 1004 fps | 97.3% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,440 psi | 81% | 1004 fps | 93% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 72% | 27,514 psi | 84% | 978 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 12,111 psi | 37% | 696 fps | 99.3% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,050 psi | 86% | 1047 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 68% | 29,472 psi | 90% | 971 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806*ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,674 psi | 88% | 1138 fps | 93.1% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 64% | 28,224 psi | 86% | 1043 fps | 89.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A0 | <<locked>> | 88% | 28,906 psi | 89% | 1004 fps | 99.2% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,891 psi | 85% | 968 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,457 psi | 90% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 68% | 27,702 psi | 85% | 873 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2* | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,325 psi | 84% | 1010 fps | 92.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,674 psi | 88% | 997 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,066 psi | 89% | 1109 fps | 89.3% |
| Somchem MP200² | <<locked>> | 76% | 27,543 psi | 84% | 1014 fps | 98.3% |
| Somchem MS200 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,385 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 99.7% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37* | <<locked>> | 88% | 29,283 psi | 90% | 1063 fps | 94.8% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 76% | 28,427 psi | 87% | 965 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Starᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 22,568 psi | 69% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,211 psi | 90% | 1024 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N340 | <<locked>> | 84% | 28,877 psi | 88% | 1020 fps | 99.4% |
| Vihtavuori N350* | <<locked>> | 92% | 26,919 psi | 82% | 1027 fps | 94.1% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 64% | 26,382 psi | 81% | 955 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp | <<locked>> | 84% | 27,586 psi | 85% | 994 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% | 17,143 psi | 53% | 814 fps | 90.8% |
| Accurate No. 5*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,381 psi | 75% | 984 fps | 87% |
| Accurate Solo 1000² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,985 psi | 58% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Accurate Solo 1250² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,534 psi | 48% | 787 fps | 97.8% |
| ADI AP 70N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,959 psi | 67% | 909 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 350² | <<locked>> | 60% | 21,828 psi | 67% | 774 fps | 100% |
| ADI APS 450² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,624 psi | 63% | 784 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 30² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,798 psi | 61% | 804 fps | 100% |
| ADI AS 50N² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,334 psi | 62% | 843 fps | 100% |
| Alliant BE-86² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,925 psi | 49% | 801 fps | 99.5% |
| Alliant BULLSEYE² | <<locked>> | 60% | 19,696 psi | 60% | 889 fps | 96.4% |
| Alliant Green Dot² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,463 psi | 57% | 814 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Herco*² | 4.1 gr | 60% | 12,125 psi | 37% | 722 fps | 88.1% |
| Alliant RED DOT² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,231 psi | 56% | 794 fps | 100% |
| Alliant Sport Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,104 psi | 68% | 935 fps | 97.1% |
| Alliant UNIQUE*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,751 psi | 48% | 814 fps | 92.5% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 100² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,753 psi | 54% | 801 fps | 100% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 102 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 11,284 psi | 35% | 692 fps | 99.3% |
| Baschieri & Pellagri 103 Pistol² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,999 psi | 55% | 833 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon Clays² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,158 psi | 53% | 732 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon HS-6*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,363 psi | 62% | 909 fps | 86.3% |
| Hodgdon Longshot*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,278 psi | 68% | 945 fps | 90.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss² | <<locked>> | 60% | 7,179 psi | 22% | 522 fps | 97.6% |
| Hodgdon Universal² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,942 psi | 58% | 856 fps | 99.6% |
| Lovex D036*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,337 psi | 75% | 984 fps | 86.9% |
| Lovex S011² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,916 psi | 70% | 892 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S020² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,376 psi | 53% | 840 fps | 96.3% |
| Maxam CSB 1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 14,504 psi | 44% | 761 fps | 97.2% |
| Maxam CSB 2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,403 psi | 47% | 810 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 3² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,679 psi | 51% | 797 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 4² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,608 psi | 57% | 820 fps | 100% |
| Maxam CSB 5² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,523 psi | 63% | 817 fps | 100% |
| Ramshot Silhouette*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,552 psi | 63% | 909 fps | 94.1% |
| Ramshot True Blue*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,482 psi | 72% | 961 fps | 91.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 12² | <<locked>> | 60% | 20,421 psi | 63% | 883 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 6,846 psi | 21% | 515 fps | 93% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 20*² | 4.4 gr | 60% | 13,822 psi | 42% | 791 fps | 92.9% |
| Rottweil P 801² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,844 psi | 73% | 902 fps | 100% |
| Rottweil P 806* | <<locked>> | 88% | 20,001 psi | 61% | 1001 fps | 87% |
| Shooters World Auto Pistol*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 24,337 psi | 75% | 984 fps | 86.9% |
| SNPE Vectan A0*² | 4.2 gr | 60% | 15,040 psi | 46% | 771 fps | 91.5% |
| SNPE Vectan A1² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,420 psi | 56% | 830 fps | 99.8% |
| SNPE Vectan BA 9² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,622 psi | 54% | 820 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA10² | <<locked>> | 60% | 22,524 psi | 69% | 810 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA7 1/2*² | <<locked>> | 76% | 18,623 psi | 57% | 863 fps | 86.1% |
| SNPE Vectan BA9 1/2² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,405 psi | 53% | 823 fps | 98.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 2* | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,802 psi | 79% | 1060 fps | 87.3% |
| Somchem MP200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,883 psi | 55% | 850 fps | 93% |
| Somchem MS200*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 16,273 psi | 50% | 807 fps | 94.2% |
| Vihtavuori 3N37*² | <<locked>> | 68% | 17,187 psi | 53% | 860 fps | 86.2% |
| Vihtavuori N320² | <<locked>> | 60% | 18,811 psi | 58% | 837 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star² | <<locked>> | 60% | 10,588 psi | 32% | 636 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N330² | <<locked>> | 60% | 17,027 psi | 52% | 846 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N340*² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,635 psi | 48% | 804 fps | 92.9% |
| Vihtavuori N350*² | <<locked>> | 72% | 16,505 psi | 51% | 846 fps | 85.8% |
| Winchester 231² | <<locked>> | 60% | 23,714 psi | 73% | 919 fps | 100% |
| Winchester AutoComp ² | <<locked>> | 60% | 15,490 psi | 47% | 794 fps | 96.9% |
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 | 180gr | LOS RNFP. Rottweil P 806 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,138 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 696 fps to 1,138 fps. Alliant Herco gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 28 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 37–90 %, 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, SNPE Vectan A0, Alliant Herco rank at the top here: for .40 S&W with the .401 | 180gr | LOS RNFP 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.