Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .401 Win. SL with .41 | 400gr | Peregrine VRG-3 bullet and 6 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Hodgdon LilGun and Vihtavuori N110.
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 ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. 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.
A valid access license is required to use the Personalized Load Calculator.
You can find more information in our FAQ: How can I use the Personalized Load Calculator?
Max Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | <<locked>> | 90% | 30,298 psi | 85% | 1181 fps | 99.8% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 21,959 psi | 62% | 689 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 84% | 31,212 psi | 88% | 1079 fps | 98.9% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 20,740 psi | 58% | 702 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 25,599 psi | 72% | 1037 fps | 99.5% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 98% | 30,110 psi | 85% | 1119 fps | 99.4% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 20"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon LilGun | 12.3 gr | 80% | 21,857 psi | 62% | 1073 fps | 98% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 15,621 psi | 44% | 614 fps | 100% |
| Lovex S040 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,224 psi | 77% | 1037 fps | 98% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 14,924 psi | 42% | 627 fps | 100% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 16,447 psi | 46% | 892 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | 10.1 gr | 80% | 17,709 psi | 50% | 948 fps | 95% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 6 powders for .401 Win. SL loaded with the .41 | 400gr | Peregrine VRG-3. Hodgdon LilGun delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 1,181 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 689 fps to 1,181 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 6 of the 6 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (245 MPa), the top charges use 58–88 %, leaving at least 12 % headroom. The 400.0 gr projectile in 0.41" calls for a 1:19.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 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. Hodgdon LilGun, Lovex S053, Vihtavuori N110 rank at the top here: for .401 Win. SL with the .41 | 400gr | Peregrine VRG-3 they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Hodgdon LilGun, Hodgdon TrailBoss, Lovex S040 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.