Vihtavuori powder

[houndawg]

After pouring througha bunch of reloading data I think I'm gonna pick up some VV powder. I'm loading for .40. Which would be better, N340 or N350? I'm looking for personal experience here.

Rob

[LIProgun]

After looking at the paper reloading data, they seemed like something of a tossup. I bought N350, and so far I like it in .45 ACP and .40.

[char923]

I have use Both and they will work fine, I use N340 for .40 and .45 ACP because it's alittle faster powder and use N350 and 3N37 in my 9X23. All VV powder is very clean burning.

[nwgunman]

Chronographed some VV N340 loads in 45acp today. Shot with a Springfield 1911, 5" barrel. Bullet was West Coast Bullet plated 230gr round nose. Used new Starline brass and Win large pistol primers. OAL = 1.260
Aver. vel. = 813 fps. sd = 12 fps.
Interesting thing was when I then shot the same load, but using old brass. Average velocity actually increased to around 825 fps, but the standard deviation went up to about 23 fps. I loaded these rounds on a Dillon 550B, using my typical "production" procedures. That is, I did NOT carefully hand weigh every charge. I checked them every once in a while to look for "boo-boos" once I had the charge wt adjusted, OAL and crimp set, etc. Otherwise I just let them roll along, just like I would do when I'm cranking out rounds for practice or a training session.

[saands]

I recently ordered both the 340 and the 350 ... UPS screwed up and held the shipment at the depot ... I didn't know, so I didn't go in to get it ... they returned it :-( ... They are paying for the return shipping, but I still don't have my powder and bullets that I ordered a LONG time ago! I would have had "personal experience" by now.
Saands
I'm hoping that VV powders are even 80% as good as I have heard!

[John Forsyth]

I have been using VV N320 in .40 and N310 in .45. I think I am going to flip them around. I am loading the .40's to a power factor of 150 to 155, 5.2gr of N320 using Rainier 155gr FP's. No signs of pressure at all.

I am using Rainier 200gr FP with 5.4gr of N310, 180 PF. Going to West Coast 230gr RN. I think with N320 I can get my PF down to 170 with less pressure.

[banjobart]

I shoot 6 grains of VV N-340 with a 180 FMJ bullet for a velocity of 950 FPS and a power factor of 171. I like this load a lot.

3N37 may be a better choice than N-350 for the .40 and .45. I prefer N-340 because the charge weight is less, more economical loading still with low pressure, accuracy and clean burning.

[nwgunman]

Ooops. I forgot to say that the charge was 6.5gr of N340. This is pretty much a mid-range load. Another interesting note was that at 6.2gr the vel was lower (aver = 794fps) and the standard deviation was about 22fps. Once again, a "hotter" load (greater pressure) resulted in more consistant velocity.

[muzzletalk]

I have never used this powder but this looks like a good place to ask how it compares to others. I currently use #5 and Power Pistol. I am trying to keep an open mind by trying different powders, bullets etc...

[char923]

muzzletalk VihtaVuori is cleaner burning then AA#5 I do not know about Power Pistol, after I started useing VV powder I stop useing AA powders. It's a little more money but worth it. Try it you will like it.

[MAKilgo]

I have been using N350 in my .45 ACP, but it is only suitable for heavier bullets. Next time I plan to get N340 or even N320. The faster burning N320 will probably give more versatility in the smaller .40 S&W, especially with lighter bullets.
I have had good luck with VV powders including N560 in my .270 Win and 6.5 Swede. They are clean burning and give me all the velocity I could want in a given load.

Mark

[Troy]

N340 is probably the best overall powder for .45ACP. As a general guideline, the powder that produces the highest velocity at max pressure is usually the best choice (this works best when comparing similar powders, which is true for the VV).

Here's the load data:

http://www.vihtavuori.fi/vihtavuori/pistol.html

-Troy

[Ron Ankeny]

I haven't used VV in my ,45 auto, but I have used it in my .40 and I like it. The best bet for the average reloader is 340 in the .40 auto, but most IPSC guys use 320. If you go with 320 you will have to load long and watch for pressure, especially with heavy bullets.

[WESHOOT2]

3N37 is superb in .355"-bore autos, but sucks in the 45ACP case.

[George Helser]

nwgunman,

I am doing testing with N340 in 9x19 and 45 ACP. I have been precisely weighing every charge and chronographing the results. In 9x19 I recently loaded some test ammo in
used brass. Like you, compared to virgin brass, I found the MV increased and the sd increased as well when everything else seemed to be the same. I need to study this
further.

Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona

[Troy]

Usually, resized 9mm casings are smaller (less volume) than unsized factory cases. Notice the "wasp-waist" look that reloaded 9mm has? That's probably most of the difference.

-Troy

[George Helser]

Troy,

I run fired brass through the same die as my virgin brass before loading do dimension is probably not an issue. However, the brass gets harder with each resizing and that might be a factor.

Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona

[45King]

I've been using N350 in .45ACP for both 200 gr loads and 230 gr. loads. I like it with the heavy bullets 'cause it's easy to get 850-900fps with a 230 w/o exceeding pressure limits. It will also drive a 200 gr. bullet to 900fps while staying at the lower end of the recommended loadings.

I'm thinking of trying some N340 with .45 Colt.