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Old November 6, 2013, 11:16 AM   #1
H-D
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Vihtavuori N320 load data

Was able to pick up some of this powder recently, but my Hornady manual doesn't have any load info on it.
What are some of your recipes for 9mm 147gr and 45acp 230gr copper plated bullets?
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Old November 6, 2013, 11:23 AM   #2
Brian Pfleuger
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You aren't likely to find plated bullet data but Vihtavouri has their data online.

http://www.lapua.com/en/products/rel...ata/relodata/6
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Old November 6, 2013, 06:53 PM   #3
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I have always wondered why I have yet to see anyone's precision "pet load" use Viht powder. Never...

Is it a price issue?
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Old November 6, 2013, 07:45 PM   #4
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Quote:
I have always wondered why I have yet to see anyone's precision "pet load" use Viht powder. Never...
Never say never......

(though it's not the OP's caliber)

jimbob86's .45ACP Pin medicine: 6.5gr vN-340, WLP primer, WIN brass case, 230gr Ranier Ballistics HP plated bullet, 1.25" OAL .....
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Old November 7, 2013, 08:56 AM   #5
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I don't publish 'pet loads' because every rifle has different characteristics and I have multiple rifles in my favorite calibers so each has its own pet load.

However, when you look at the results in general, Vihta Vuori powders yield great results. Part of the reason is that they meter very well and are very consistent. That tends to keep the velocity variation very small from load to load yielding better accuracy.

N140 powder is at the top of my list for accurate loads with my two .308 bolt actions with 6 different bullet types using 150, 168 and 175 grain SMKs, Nosler 155 and 168 grain, and Berger 150 grain bullets.
N140 takes the 6 of the top ten places on average for the .308 bolt action rifles.

For my .223 bolt actions, N133 powder already takes the top two places with 40 and 52 grain bullets and I have only started to load with (only 116 measured groups).
It has become my go to powder with my .223 for bullets under 55 grains.
I haven't tried it with bullets 55 grains and higher yet.
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Old November 7, 2013, 10:22 AM   #6
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Folks talk a lot more about items that they have problems with than items that they are completely satisfied with.

I have a distributor for Vihtivouri powers a mile from my house. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view. I load .380 using N310, 9mm with N320 and N340, and .40 with N340. Burns extremely clean and seems to deliver pretty consistent accuracy.

A pound of powder is 7000 grains and each load is 2 to 6 grains. So Vihti costs a small bit more per cartridge even though the 1lb jug is 60% more out of your wallet. Accurate and much less time spend cleaning firearms.

Hodgdon appears to be the importer for VV and and supply seems to go up and down.

Best of luck,

Wes
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Old November 7, 2013, 11:10 AM   #7
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Quote:
A pound of powder is 7000 grains and each load is 2 to 6 grains. So Vihti costs a small bit more per cartridge even though the 1lb jug is 60% more out of your wallet.
It's gone up that much (or the dollar has shrunk that much- it is imported)?

When I bought it, it was $19.99/lb, as opposed to around 15-18 bucks for others ....
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Old November 7, 2013, 12:19 PM   #8
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Now $30/lb seems common for Vihtavuori powders, as compared to $18-$21/lb for most domestics. Top notch stuff, though. I believe Vihtavuori is the only maker that makes all its own constituent chemicals; nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, stabilizers and deterrents, all. By sticking to 100% cotton as a cellulose source for nitrocellulose, they keep it cleaner burning than nitrocellulose from wood and paper pulp is.
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Old November 7, 2013, 01:15 PM   #9
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Grab it while you can, the factory has been closed !
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Old November 7, 2013, 02:23 PM   #10
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This link seems to suggest that Lapua bought them as was rumored to be in the works.

http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/

Yes? No?

Wes
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Old November 7, 2013, 06:26 PM   #11
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I have been told by the importers that the factory is closed, I would love this to not be true.
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Old November 7, 2013, 06:27 PM   #12
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Yes. Vihtavuori's web info has been redirected to Lapua for at least a year now, maybe two. Can't recall when I first noticed it. Lapua's site probably has a news release page and I'll bet a date will be there somewhere.


Edit: I did a search and Lapua's site was hosting VV's newest reloading data in Dec. 2009, so it's been at least that long.

Re-Edit: Wrong. Lapua Nammo has been handling the distribution since then, but Eurenco actually has owned the plant. They started looking for a buyer in the middle of last year. Read here.
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Last edited by Unclenick; November 7, 2013 at 06:36 PM.
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Old November 7, 2013, 10:06 PM   #13
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Well, the more I look, the worse it gets. It's starting to look like the old Vihtavuori may be replaced by substitutes.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/...-powder-plant/
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Old November 8, 2013, 12:04 AM   #14
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And they are now owned by a very large European conglomerate that owns several powder manufacturing plants throughout Europe. The only problem in the US is distribution and I did not know that Hodgdon was now the importer. It used to be a company named Kaltron Pettibone. I've used 3N37 since it was first introduced in this country and was able to get some recently. It's a very good powder for high performance 9 x 19mm as well as the .40 S&W and it's a very low flasher along with all of it's other fine attributes.
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Old November 8, 2013, 09:06 PM   #15
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I haven't verified the Hodgdon connection. It's not included on their site. But I am sore because I finally settled on N135 for 150 grain .30-06 ball loads for its great case fill and low gas port pressure. Arrrgh!
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Old November 8, 2013, 10:05 PM   #16
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My wife and I use N320 for our USPSA 9mm minor power
factor Production division loads.

3.7 N320
147 Montana Gold CMJ
WSP primer
1.145 OAL

Start around 3.3gr with your plated bullet, chrono
and work up to the velocity you want. Pay attention--
N320 is a pretty fast powder.
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Old November 9, 2013, 11:44 AM   #17
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Vihtavuori N320 load data

I worked up some N320 loads for my 9mm and they performed very well with 124 Nolser JHPs. Came across several lbs of N330 which offers a little better charge and speed spread so I switched my 9mm over to that. I just started working up some N320 loads in my 45ACP and Rem 230gr MC and that's a very nice shooter also using Lupau's load data (4.9 - 5.3). I see they have some load data for lighter plated bullets (Ranier) but nothing but jacketed for the 230 weights so you might have to experiment with those?

Although it was never a deliberate effort, I've become to prefer the VV powders across the board due to their consistency, extreme cleanliness and good metering. I have on my shelf N320, N330, N340, N110 and N135. With these I load 9mm, 45acp, 357mag, 44 mag, 223 and 308. I also have well respected alternatives such as HS6, Unique, W231, 2400, W748, Rel 15 and Varget on my shelf. More often than not I find a better overall result with the VV powders. I sure hope future supply of this line is not interrupted, it is very good stuff!
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