Need help selecting grain 308 with vihtavuori N550

[mashburn82]

During the time of trying to grab whatever we could a couple years ago. I ran across vihtavuori and really liked the reviews.

And same as Barnes BRX 175 grain. (Hornady is 165-168. Then jumps to 176-180

However neither of these are in my 11th edition Hornady book.

Does anyone have a powder this is close to? I hate guessing, but I'm thinking of going between 39-42.

 

[Ole timer]

From VihtaVuori.com... Hope this helps

Rifle reloading data | Handloading | Rifle calibers | Centerfire Rifle bullets | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori

Vihtavuori offers rifle reloading data for numerous calibers and bullets for match and hunting purposes. Never exceed maximum loads.

www.vihtavuori.com

 

[CNC-Dude]

I use VV N150 with 167g Lapua and 175g Nosler with good results.....

 

[mashburn82]

From VihtaVuori.com... Hope this helps

Rifle reloading data | Handloading | Rifle calibers | Centerfire Rifle bullets | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori

Vihtavuori offers rifle reloading data for numerous calibers and bullets for match and hunting purposes. Never exceed maximum loads.

www.vihtavuori.com

Thanks. That gets me about where I was thinking this was going to be. I don't know why I didn't think to look at their website. Probably because I trust a book more.

It has it 39.6 - 44.8




I'm going to do low end at 40. And test the velocity with 3 bullets. And then adjusted as needed.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

N550 is lovely stuff. I don't use it much as the continuation of supply is poor and the price is high in NZ. I would not waste powder and bullets at 40g. You won't stay there. ( You really want to "test" at 2300fps?)
Start a bit higher - maybe 42/43. In the middle. Watch the top end loads - it is a double based powder, so it is likely to ramp up the pressure quickly. This was a popular powder in Aussie for the Palma guys a years or 10 back and performs well even with 155g bullets. I found it also a bit fussy on primers ( but that's just me).

 

[mashburn82]

N550 is lovely stuff. I don't use it much as the continuation of supply is poor and the price is high in NZ. I would not waste powder and bullets at 40g. You won't stay there. ( You really want to "test" at 2300fps?)
Start a bit higher - maybe 42/43. In the middle. Watch the top end loads - it is a double based powder, so it is likely to ramp up the pressure quickly. This was a popular powder in Aussie for the Palma guys a years or 10 back and performs well even with 155g bullets. I found it also a bit fussy on primers ( but that's just me).

Thanks! With their website saying 46 Max. And with it being very close to the same burn rate as alliant RL-17. Which is in the book going 41.7-48.9..... I agree with starting at 42.


I'll be using this bullet for elk hunting. So pushing it for that possible 1000 yard shot. Hence why I picked 175 bullet vs 168...... And with how I love Hornady SST. I've read Barnes LRX does a better job.

Also I'll be using match primers. But that probably won't help. But it'll be more consistent

 

[std7mag]

Ok, i'm lost....

Your wanting to use Barnes mono bullets with Vithavouri powder?
And trying to use a Hornady load manual for it?

At least that's my take on the OP's post.

Why not try Barnes load data for their bullets?

 

[ronemus]

I've found Reloder 15 to be a bit faster than N-550, but in limited testing to date Reloder 15.5 seems to be a very good match. N-550 isn't temperature stable and Reloder 15.5 is, so I will probably switch to RL-15.5 if it performs well in further testing.

 

[miningshawn]

I've found Reloder 15 to be a bit faster than N-550, but in limited testing to date Reloder 15.5 seems to be a very good match. N-550 isn't temperature stable and Reloder 15.5 is, so I will probably switch to RL-15.5 if it performs well in further testing.

Uhhhhh.
550 is pretty stable. More so than a few other powders labeled "temperature stable".
The 100 series powders however...

 

[ronemus]

Uhhhhh.
550 is pretty stable. More so than a few other powders labeled "temperature stable".
The 100 series powders however...

I'm not saying N-550 is a bad actor, but RL-15.5 so far looks to be rock stable. Only a few people have been able to lay hands on RL-15.5 and results are spotty, but so far it looks really good.

 

[paulT]

I would much rather use the single based Temp stable N150 with 185g weight bullets for .308 win Verses Double based lower temp stable N550 which will erode barrel sooner than N150.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I would much rather use the single based Temp stable N150 with 185g weight bullets for .308 win Verses Double based lower temp stable N550 which will erode barrel sooner than N150.

I think you're right about the barrel erosion as the N550 burns much hotter (the heat index being different than burn rate) compared to N150.

 

[Laurie]

N-550 isn't temperature stable

That depends on when you base your experiences of it on. Viht has upgraded the entire 500 series range to being temperature stable in the last couple of years. All recent introductions from N565 on have been temp-stable from day one.

 

[ronemus]

That depends on when you base your experiences of it on. Viht has upgraded the entire 500 series range to being temperature stable in the last couple of years. All recent introductions from N565 on have been temp-stable from day one.

That's good to know; unfortunately, I have a full case that's over a decade old (been out of the gane for ten years).

 

[Fuj]

That depends on when you base your experiences of it on. Viht has upgraded the entire 500 series range to being temperature stable in the last couple of years. All recent introductions from N565 on have been temp-stable from day one.

That's about right as I got it from them. Early on, I received
in the new N-555, I've been chomping at the bit to get some
range time in with it. Looks like it will be near Reloder-19 and
temp stable. More new ground to cover with 8 lbs of it.