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Thread: VIHTAVUORI pistol powders

  1. #21
    Boolit Master Ola's Avatar
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    About Vihtavuori factory. Yes, the production almost ended because the ex-owner, French EURENCO, made a mistake: they focused developing powders for artillery and other heavy weapons for Finnish Defence Forces. This caused 2 problems:
    1) experimental heavy weapon powders were made by using the production lines of the small arms powders (N100, N300, N500) causing serious shortages for reloaders and ammunition factories. Low production -> low sales.
    2) in resent years the FDF hasn't bought too much powder for heavy weapons. Low demand -> low sales.

    The new owner of the Vihtavuori plant is NAMMO ( owns also f.e. LAPUA ammo plant). NAMMO-Vihtavuori is focusing in small arms powders. The production rate is getting up again and when they get everything sorted out they'll start "a serious development of small arms powders" (quote from a NAMMO boss). So in the future we should have new, hopefully even better VV powders.

  2. #22
    Boolit Buddy GRid.1569's Avatar
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    That's good to hear....
    May we achieve our aims....

  3. #23
    Boolit Master

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    Not in pistols, but in my 6mm/284 their powder was by far the most accurate across temperature ranges that I have used.

  4. #24
    Boolit Master Ola's Avatar
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    Btw. If they start developing new powders, is there something you would especially like to see? Some special purpose powders? Something even faster than N310?

    IMO in rifle powders they should make new series that has the burn rate of the N100's and grain size of the N300's.

  5. #25
    Boolit Master curioushooter's Avatar
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    Vitavouri powders are about a 1/3rd more expensive per pound compared to Hodgdon, Alliant, Accurate (if you can find it at all). Yet, their performance and quality in my experience is unmatched. They also put out data using the CIP pressure limits and reasonable barrel lenghts, which results in their powders seeming very fast, but what they list in the book you actually get.

    I still have found nothing in 9mm that compares to 3N38. You simply cannot match its performance and stay within pressure limits (34075 PSI CIP Piezo) with any other powder...this results in handload ammo surpassing what factory loaded can offer. 3N38 can get 147 grain XTPs or Gold Dots (which both weigh around 141 grains) going 1200 FPS in 4" barrels. Faster in my 4.75" CZ75. This isn't even an overpressure load. Any modern European made 9mm was made to the CIP proof standard and can digest this stuff continuously.

    I still have found nothing in 38 Special +P (21750 PSI CIP Piezo) that compares to N340 which can propel a 160 grain cast boolit to 1100 FPS in 6.5" Even in a snub nose this load is going 1000 FPS+. With a 358439/358429HP cast soft to around 8 BHN you are in business.

    If you want to see HOT check out their 357 Magnum data. That's for big framed revolvers or contenders only! The starting loads often exceede current SAAMI pressure limited max loads!

  6. #26
    Boolit Man
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    I use N320 in 45ACP and 45COLT for my competition loads (25m bullseye) and i like them a lot
    /Mathias

  7. #27
    Boolit Buddy Swede 45's Avatar
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    VV is pretty much the only powder I use in my handguns..
    Clean, even velocities, accurate and available here in Sweden. I load for 9mm, 40S&W, 45acp, 38spl and 357 mag. 310, 320, 340, 350, 3n37, and 110 on the shelf here..
    310 and 340 are my favorites..

  8. #28
    Boolit Buddy

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    In .45acp: I like 3.9gr. N310 under a 200gr. SWC or 4.6gr. Under a 185gr. SWC. I am still experimenting with N320 5.7-5.9gr. with 185gr. bullets. I am experimentng using N330 only with 225gr. -230gr. bullets. I like 6.4gr. of N340 with 230gr. j-word bullets. In .44 Special I have 200, 200gr. Speer Gold Dots loaded with 8.4gr. of N350 but I have not shot any yet. I like Viht powders.

  9. #29
    Boolit Master
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    N320 has been popular in the US for USPSA's Limited and Production Divisions. But it is pricey, and there other powders like Hodgdon's Titegroup that more shooters in the sport are using.

  10. #30
    Boolit Buddy anothernewb's Avatar
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    N320 and N340 are what I use with my 9mm. Bought a bunch during the powder scare - because that was what was on the shelf. ended up really liking them. Seem to leave less powder residue behind than 231 that i was using previously.

  11. #31
    Boolit Master

    Sig556r's Avatar
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    N320 works well in my 9s & 38super...clean burning but expensive.

  12. #32
    Boolit Bub Eutectic45's Avatar
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    For target velocity loads in 38 Special and 45 ACP you can not get better powder than VV310. It is a little faster than Bullseye and is a lot cleaner and makes less smoke.
    VV340 and VV350 are excellent for standard velocity loads.
    VV3N37 is THE powder for 38 Super and 9MM Luger with bullets 125 grain or heavier.

  13. #33
    Boolit Buddy
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    If you like N320, give the new Alliant Sport Pistol a try.

    I used to use N320 exclusively for 9MM in USPSA Production division. Sport Pistol is everything N320 is but costs far less and is designed to not damage polymer coating on lead bullets. Its my go-to powder now.
    Alcohol Inventory Reduction Specialist (Journeyman Level)

  14. #34
    Boolit Master gpidaho's Avatar
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    In my opinion VV powders are pretty hard to beat. N110 has the good qualities of H110 without being so touchy, a great powder in 30 carbine. 3N37 has been my favorite 9mm powder and along with N110 a very good choice in 357 and 38spl+P. Gp

  15. #35
    Boolit Buddy
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    Maybe because I'm cheap or maybe because I dont shoot bulls eye type matches but I stick with hodgon, win, accurate and even vectan lately. Maybe VV is more accurate but for mainly steel shooting and little paper target I dont see the need to spend the extra cash. I can get Vectan for about $12/lb buying and thats not buying in bulk so I've been playing around with Vectan GM3 and A0 in my handguns and so far they both work well.
    I think many times when people call one powder or another dirty its because they load too light and a lot of the powder doesnt burn completely.

  16. #36
    Boolit Buddy Hi-Speed's Avatar
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    Does anyone have a cast bullet load for 158 gr SWC or Lyman 358429 170 gr SWC using N340 in 357 Magnum?

  17. #37
    Boolit Buddy Newboy's Avatar
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    VV are the only single-base powders available these days.

    I do not use anything else in pistols.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check