Vihtavuori N350 Pet Loads?

[blackmamba]

I was running low on medium burn rate powders and was able to snag a 4 pounder of N350.  Does anyone have experience with it in 41 or 44 magnums, or 45 Colt?  Thanks in advance!

[oddshooter]

Not on the N350; but I shoot a lot of N340.

N340 is probably my favorite powder; I think I've tried it in .32, .38, .357, .357 Max, .41 mag, .44 mag, .45 Colt, and even .40/10mm. I read about a lot of folks using it in 9mm.
N350 is just a touch slower. I find it closer to the slower burn rate than the medium burn rate from velocities.

I find VV powders:
Very clean
Very accurate, and
Very stable uploading and downloading.

That's a Holy Trinity in powders.

There are two Load Tables from Vihtahouri. I would suggest finding both the old and the new.

If you are looking for alternate recipes, let me know and I will try to find my sources. A lot of handloading writers seem to ignore Vihtavouri. I believe that to be a HUGE mistake.  October 2020 Handloader magazine had Brian Pearce Pet Loads article on the 327fm; it had 1 recipe for 1 bullet using N110 in 10 pages.  


I also shoot their N110 for hotter loads. I'm trying to find N310 now to try in my .32 SW long, .32 H&Rmag, 327 fedmag, and of course the .32-20. I'm anxious and hopeful that folks will offer up some interesting loads and results for the N350 as that is on my list as well.


Prescut

[blackmamba]

Thanks, Prescut, I've tried N105 and found it to be just as you say, very clean and super accurate. It seems to fall between Blue Dot and 2400 for burn rate, while the N350 is between Herco and HS6, so maybe a little slower than medium. I have enough data to get started, and will post results when I get them.

[dougader]

I've only used it in 9x23 Winchester, but IIRC Speer 14 has N350 listed sparsely in 10mm, 41 mag, 44 spl, 44 mag, 45 auto, 45 colt, 454,and 480 ruger

[blackmamba]

Thanks, Doug!

[gcf]

I've used N350 in the past, but not recently enough to provide much input. Suspect what ever your intended caliber, it will work best with heavier bullets.

My favorite VV powder, is N330. I'd consider it a true mid range burn rate, & a tad faster then N340. Works well in 9mm, .45acp, .44spl, & .45 Colt. Others as well, I'm sure.

VV has a fair bit of data listed on line, but the last time I checked, I noted some substantial differences between old, & new data for N330. Not sure if it was a typo (doubtful), if they have changed the burn rate, or what. I've continued to use the old data, as I've had what remains of my 4 lb jug for quite a while.

[oddshooter]

So there are four of us. Disappointing. I was hoping more folks would have had some experience by now.

I'll keep looking for someone who loves to share/brag about their load data and awesome results. My experiments have shown me more promise that any other powder company; but I need more grist for the mill.

My example of needing someone to take the lead is on the 327 federal magnum, which is why I was so disappointed with an otherwise great article by Brian Pearce. I've tried 2 Vihtavouri powders with multiple bullets and just haven't found a combo that's under an 1 3/4" bench rested, 25 yards. I've tried 3 guns and just can't get what I expect, under 1".


Prescut

[x101airborne]

I am going to try to cut and paste some data from Loaddata dot com. I am starting my attempt with 45 Colt and will try working down putting each caliber in its own post so as to keep them separated. Attempt 1:

285 RCBS 45-270-SAA cast Vihtavuori VV-N350 9.0 892 (Venturino)
280 RCBS 45-270-SAA cast Vihtavuori VV-N350 10.0 970 (Venturino 20K PSI)
180 Intercast LSWC Vihtavuori VV-N350 11.6 1191
Remarks: starting load
180 Intercast LSWC Vihtavuori VV-N350 12.8 1309 (VV Reloading guide)
Remarks: maximum load
185 Hornady HP/XTP Vihtavuori VV-N350 12.3 1135
Remarks: starting load
185 Hornady HP/XTP Vihtavuori VV-N350 13.2 1253 (VV Reloading guide)
Remarks: maximum load
250 Hornady HP/XTP Vihtavuori VV-N350 10.7 974
Remarks: starting load
250 Hornady HP/XTP Vihtavuori VV-N350 11.2 1053 (VV Reloading guide)
Remarks: maximum load


Oh to heck with it. Too much data to cut and paste. I dont have any experience with it myself. Just use your "google-kung-fu" and look up VV's reloading guide. It is free online. It has all the data you could want.

[blackmamba]

Thanks, airborne, much appreciated!

[oddshooter]

airborne,
and many thanks from me as well.

I tried going to my pdf.textfiles.com where I had seen the old V V manual before.
I now get a malware danger message to not go to the site because of a Trojan horse.

I have been to the new V V site many times, but it was nice to see the old tables as well.
Many loads were changed and others dropped.
Those are the most complete of the V V powder load tables. I however find it very difficult to do my normal comparison of 3 sources for a given load or use the bullets that I want.

Like I posted above:
The Ginormous hole in V V data is for the .32. They have the 32 S&W long and the 32 S&W long wadcutter, one powder.
That's it. There is NO .32 H&Rmag, NO .327 fed mag., and NO 32-20.
Those calibers have to be right up Vihtavouri N340's alley.

Prescut

[oddshooter]

I just sent Vihtavouri an email requesting more data on the .32's.

We'll see. More to follow ?

Prescut

[x101airborne]

Nothing on load data for any of the 32 calibers using VV N350 or N340.

[blackmamba]

I ran some numbers in my Gordon's Reloading Tool and got this:

32 H&R Mag 7" test barrel Hornady 100 gr XTP 4.4 gr N340 1067 fps @ 20 Kpsi

[dhd]

I have not used it in anything larger than the 357 but do use it in 327 Federal with heavy cast (Sledgehammers). It compares well with HS6 in my experience and I love HS6 for medium loads and heavy cast bullets. I always keep one MTM 100 round box loaded with a split of HS6 and N350 and both powders are interchangeable as far as accuracy is concerned (smile worthy).

I've got a 8lb jug of it and some other revolver level VV powders and find they are very clean and accurate. My suggestion for N350 would be to pick a HS6 level load, drop it 10% or so, and work back up. Similar to HS6, I found it wants to run pretty warm for best accuracy. Unlike HS6, I did not notice it being "dirty" at to light of a load. I would not suggest using it as a light load powder. It seems to me lots of space in manuals are spent on light loads and heavy loads but "medium" loads aren't given much ink.

I cannot even offer a guess using N350 with jacketed bullets as I don't use light or medium powders with jacketed.

[oddshooter]

airborne,

Thanks, bud, for that verification that there is a .32 hole in the data at loaddata.com as well. Could it possibly be because VV doesn't believe it should be shot in a .32. My experience has shown otherwise.

blackmamba,
interesting looking recipe that I have to try.

dhd,
great comparison with HS-6. Now I'm off to find my own HS-6 history and compare. I occasionally try to make comparisons; but generally try to avoid "extrapolations" from one powder to another. I gotta see if yours looks reasonable or not for me.
In all candor I have tried finding a weight by finding 2 powders that seem to use the same weight to get the same velocity. HS-6 may be a good example here.

Still, that's what VV has left us.


Stay safe, brothers,
Prescut