Need help with plated .40s and Vihtavouri

Caliber · August 3, 2010, 06:51 PM

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This will be my first time using "plated bullets" I've always used TMJ 180/165 grs. I figured since this is going to be mostly target and plinking ammo I would just save the extra 40-50% of cost and went with some plated rounds. I have ahold of 250rnds each of Rainier 165gr. RNFP and Berry's 180 dblstrike RN. on another note, My sigs seem to give better accuracy with round nose vs the typical flat nose cone. Out of the 2 brands, the berry's seem to have a better jacket type finish while the rainiers look like painted or copper washed lead.

I was wondering if anyone knows a good start/stop point using Vihtavuori
N320 and N340 "I'm almost out of n340 but I have 2lbs of n320 left"

Since these are plated, I'm pretty sure they should be loaded to lead specs but I can't seem to find any info on 165gr and very little on the 180's. using
n320/340 the handguns of use will be a Sig P229 and a Sig p226 Elite

Doby45 · August 3, 2010, 07:48 PM

http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...deEdition8.pdf

This says LTC 180gr N320 3.5 883 / 4.1 968

COL of 1.126 is listed start at minimum charge and work up. That COL is listed as the baseline COL for the 40cal with the Vihtavuori line of powders so I would say it would be safe for your 180s and 165s.

It has a listing also for the 165 but it being a TMJ starting load of 4.9 @ 994 and maxs at 5.2 @ 1038. I would start at the start load there also and go from there.

Caliber · August 3, 2010, 08:24 PM

I don't know if that would do my any good. supposedly you're not to load plated rounds the same as jacketed but then you're not supposed to load them as lead either...

Doby45 · August 3, 2010, 11:20 PM

You will be fine if you start at the bottom and work up monitoring for pressure signs.

escard · August 4, 2010, 12:41 AM

the company manufacturing the best plated-bullets (Haendler & Nattermann HS High Speed) has some loading data (also for Vihtavuori powders) for free information in the net which you could also use for the other brands of plated bullets......
try "haendler & nattermann hs ladedaten" by google!

WESHOOT2 · August 4, 2010, 09:11 AM

Suggest:

OAL 1.130".
Sized sorted cases, new or used.
CCI500 or WSP.
Finish using the LEE Carbide Factory Crimp Die.
Suggest using a low start charge.

Real Gun · August 4, 2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caliber

I don't know if that would do my any good. supposedly you're not to load plated rounds the same as jacketed but then you're not supposed to load them as lead either...

I think you are right. One case in point I found was in the Lee book, which shows a 180 gr jacketed bullet getting about 7% more Accurate #7 than 180 gr copper-plated. The 180 gr lead got 15% less Bullseye than FMJ. The reduction proportions seem to vary depending on the powder.

Caliber · August 7, 2010, 10:27 PM

have not gotten around to trying them yet due to work time of day and or weather once I get home. but I'm pretty comfortable working with 3.7-4.7 and I'm going to try it out tomorrow from 3.8 to 4.6 in .2 grain intervals using n320. I'm not going to worry about the n340 for now, since I probably only have enough to do about 20 rounds. I'll just use that up on my handful of 165gr Gold dots.

August 3, 2010, 06:51 PM	#1
Caliber Member Join Date: January 30, 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 45	Need help with plated .40s and Vihtavouri -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This will be my first time using "plated bullets" I've always used TMJ 180/165 grs. I figured since this is going to be mostly target and plinking ammo I would just save the extra 40-50% of cost and went with some plated rounds. I have ahold of 250rnds each of Rainier 165gr. RNFP and Berry's 180 dblstrike RN. on another note, My sigs seem to give better accuracy with round nose vs the typical flat nose cone. Out of the 2 brands, the berry's seem to have a better jacket type finish while the rainiers look like painted or copper washed lead. I was wondering if anyone knows a good start/stop point using Vihtavuori N320 and N340 "I'm almost out of n340 but I have 2lbs of n320 left" Since these are plated, I'm pretty sure they should be loaded to lead specs but I can't seem to find any info on 165gr and very little on the 180's. using n320/340 the handguns of use will be a Sig P229 and a Sig p226 Elite

August 4, 2010, 12:41 AM	#5
escard Member Join Date: April 20, 2010 Posts: 44	Loading data for plated bullets the company manufacturing the best plated-bullets (Haendler & Nattermann HS High Speed) has some loading data (also for Vihtavuori powders) for free information in the net which you could also use for the other brands of plated bullets...... try "haendler & nattermann hs ladedaten" by google!

August 4, 2010, 09:11 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	40 Suggest: OAL 1.130". Sized sorted cases, new or used. CCI500 or WSP. Finish using the LEE Carbide Factory Crimp Die. Suggest using a low start charge. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 3, 2010, 07:48 PM	#2
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...deEdition8.pdf This says LTC 180gr N320 3.5 883 / 4.1 968 COL of 1.126 is listed start at minimum charge and work up. That COL is listed as the baseline COL for the 40cal with the Vihtavuori line of powders so I would say it would be safe for your 180s and 165s. It has a listing also for the 165 but it being a TMJ starting load of 4.9 @ 994 and maxs at 5.2 @ 1038. I would start at the start load there also and go from there.

August 3, 2010, 08:24 PM	#3
Caliber Member Join Date: January 30, 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 45	I don't know if that would do my any good. supposedly you're not to load plated rounds the same as jacketed but then you're not supposed to load them as lead either...

August 3, 2010, 11:20 PM	#4
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	You will be fine if you start at the bottom and work up monitoring for pressure signs.

August 7, 2010, 10:27 PM	#8
Caliber Member Join Date: January 30, 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 45	have not gotten around to trying them yet due to work time of day and or weather once I get home. but I'm pretty comfortable working with 3.7-4.7 and I'm going to try it out tomorrow from 3.8 to 4.6 in .2 grain intervals using n320. I'm not going to worry about the n340 for now, since I probably only have enough to do about 20 rounds. I'll just use that up on my handful of 165gr Gold dots.