Input on Vihtavouri powder please

[20 TAC]

In light of another thread currently going in this forum concerning yet another round of powder price increases, a little research has led me to an opportunity to pick up some Vihtavouri N100 series powders in 8 lb. containers for a very reasonable price given today's market. I have reloaded for about 25 years, and 90+% of my reloading has involved Hodgdon powder. I have used a little N133 in my 20 caliber chamberings, but that is the extent of my experience with Vihtavouri.
I'm currently getting a rifle chambered in 25 Creedmoor with the emphasis on shooting mainly lighter bullets (75-85 grain) for a coyote calling rifle. I will load up to 115 grain bullets for deer but this will be a small diet compared to the light bullet focus.
Looking for any feedback on N140, N150, and N160 you can share. From my research, it appears N140 would be a similar burn rate to Varget, N150 is maybe just a little faster than H4350, and N160 similar to H4831. Would you consider this pretty accurate? What is your experience with Vihtavouri powder (accuracy, temp sensitivity, clean burning, etc)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[ebb]

I have been loading my 6.5-284 with N165 for many years, and highly recommend their products. I will be looking to use more than 165 as my reserves are depleted, I am not happy with the way US based component makers have been manipulating the market and will look to anyone foreign or not who are not taking advantage of this fiasco. i know nothing of a 25 creedmoor but I am sure that something 160 or faster would work well for your needs.

 

[Gary in MD]

I’ve used N160 quite a bit. It’s clean burning

 

[mike mccormick]

Don't be leary of the vhitavouri powders. Lot to lot consistency is excellent. N140 is about as direct a replacement for varget as you will find.

 

[Bill Norris]

I've used N-120 N-130 N-133 N-140 N-150 N-160 N-165. I like it all and will continue to replace most of the H-stuff with it.

 

[Dave M.]

Viht powders are quite available and rather easy to find online (most of the common ones anyways).

 

[20 TAC]

I have been loading my 6.5-284 with N165 for many years, and highly recommend their products. I will be looking to use more than 165 as my reserves are depleted, I am not happy with the way US based component makers have been manipulating the market and will look to anyone foreign or not who are not taking advantage of this fiasco. i know nothing of a 25 creedmoor but I am sure that something 160 or faster would work well for your needs.

Good point. I tend to agree with your statement about manipulating the market, US based or not. It has been proven time and again that competition is healthy for the consumer. Buying up the competition and monopolizing the market is not healthy for the consumer. It doesn’t matter if we are talking gunpowder or grocery stores. Shareholders can never have enough…

The consumer needs to embrace the concept that WE are the true shareholders and do business accordingly.

Sorry to derail, I’d rather learn more about what appear to be some good rifle powders.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

IF, I'm not, "Throwing" StaBall,.. I'm weighing, the awesome VV, N-160 for my 6 XC and 6.5 Creed. for, Medium to Heavy Bullet's, in both !

 

[mike06]

I have been using VV N555 in my 6.5 Creed having excellent results in my AR10 6.5 with Nosler 129 ACBLR and 130 Accubonds

 

[Doug Casner]

I use n-133 in .308 and n-150 in 22-250 with 60 gr. bullets shoots little groups. Doug

 

[jackieschmidt]

You

In light of another thread currently going in this forum concerning yet another round of powder price increases, a little research has led me to an opportunity to pick up some Vihtavouri N100 series powders in 8 lb. containers for a very reasonable price given today's market. I have reloaded for about 25 years, and 90+% of my reloading has involved Hodgdon powder. I have used a little N133 in my 20 caliber chamberings, but that is the extent of my experience with Vihtavouri.
I'm currently getting a rifle chambered in 25 Creedmoor with the emphasis on shooting mainly lighter bullets (75-85 grain) for a coyote calling rifle. I will load up to 115 grain bullets for deer but this will be a small diet compared to the light bullet focus.
Looking for any feedback on N140, N150, and N160 you can share. From my research, it appears N140 would be a similar burn rate to Varget, N150 is maybe just a little faster than H4350, and N160 similar to H4831. Would you consider this pretty accurate? What is your experience with Vihtavouri powder (accuracy, temp sensitivity, clean burning, etc)?

Thanks in advance for your input.

you are pretty much spot on on your assessments.

Several shooters in my area are shooting N150 in their 6BRA’s with the heavier bullets. It is just a tad faster than 4350. I also shoot it in my Mauser Actioned 280 Remington with 140 grn Ballistic tips at around 2925 fps.

 

[20 TAC]

In addition to the replies here, I’ve done a little more research on the forum regarding Vihtavouri powder. Seems like the majority of folks really like these powders. I think I’m going to take the plunge and try some.

 

[jxb]

OP, thanks for starting this thread as I've also been looking at VV. I'd be really interested in seeing which of the N1xx series powders folks like best for these.
204 Ruger, 22-250, 220 Swift, 6GT, 6.5 Creed, 7mm Rem Mag.

I was looking today and it seemed like a good start would be N133, N140, N150, N160/N165 but I have zero experience with it, just was reading their powder descriptions.

 

[nakneker]

VV is great powder, as mentioned above it’s offered some of the best lot to lot consistency I’ve found. I use it more and more and find I can find it easier than many of the H powders I’ve been using. I would think N140/N150 would be good powders for a 25 creed with light bullets, maybe try some N160 too is you get tempted to try heavier bullets. I’m using VV more and more, in my pistols and in my rifles of all sizes. I think you’ll be pleased. Not to mention their pricing, it use to be out of my price range but now it’s becoming more attractive all the time.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I've spent the summer testing VV in all my rifles after going to it exclusively in rifle and pistol. It is consistent from lot to lot, and burns very clean. I dont have a 25 creed but do have a 250AI which is very similar. In my testing with 75 gr Hammers, it was able to hit 3400 fps and getting groups under .1" with N-540.
The worst group I have recorded in my testing was .65.
N-555 was designed for the 6.5 creed and was intended to compete with H-4350. While I have 555 I havent yet tried it since I dont shoot many heavy bullets when hunting. I had intended to test it in my 284 which I've heard it performs well in. Working on my 9.3x62 now. Tested N540 in it and the worst group was 1" and will be testing N-140 as soon as the weather and winds here improve.
For situations where I prefer a ball powder, I kept the Ramshot line which I have also had good luck with. For unlisted VV data, contact Capstone Precision Group. They are the VV Dist in the US and have been helpful to me since purging Hodgdon from my world.

PS, VV has limited data out there and QL and GRT have been a huge help to me with my AI cartridges.

 

[JSH]

A good thread for sure.
Now if there were more load data for some of the US market cartridges.

 

[mike06]

A good thread for sure.
Now if there were more load data for some of the US market cartridges.

VV is owned by the Nammo Group. I think their US testing lab is in Arizona. I once wrote to them and asked for load data using VV N555 in a 270 Win. using 3 different Nosler bullents. Much to my surprise less than a week later I got a personal phone call from their lab with the results that I asked for. They are very good to worked with.

 

[20 TAC]

I've spent the summer testing VV in all my rifles after going to it exclusively in rifle and pistol. It is consistent from lot to lot, and burns very clean. I dont have a 25 creed but do have a 250AI which is very similar. In my testing with 75 gr Hammers, it was able to hit 3400 fps and getting groups under .1" with N-540.
The worst group I have recorded in my testing was .65.
N-555 was designed for the 6.5 creed and was intended to compete with H-4350. While I have 555 I havent yet tried it since I dont shoot many heavy bullets when hunting. I had intended to test it in my 284 which I've heard it performs well in. Working on my 9.3x62 now. Tested N540 in it and the worst group was 1" and will be testing N-140 as soon as the weather and winds here improve.
For situations where I prefer a ball powder, I kept the Ramshot line which I have also had good luck with. For unlisted VV data, contact Capstone Precision Group. They are the VV Dist in the US and have been helpful to me since purging Hodgdon from my world.

PS, VV has limited data out there and QL and GRT have been a huge help to me with my AI cartridges.

This is excellent information given your experience with the 250 AI and its similarity to the 25 Creed. Thank you for sharing. What purpose are you using the 75 Hammers for and are you pleased with them? I am hoping to get an accurate load established at around 3,500 fps with 75 V-Max. Currently well supplied on Varget so I’m unsure if I should pick up the N140 or not, but plan on grabbing some N150 and 160 for sure.

 

[SeabeeKen]

This is excellent information given your experience with the 250 AI and its similarity to the 25 Creed. Thank you for sharing. What purpose are you using the 75 Hammers for and are you pleased with them? I am hoping to get an accurate load established at around 3,500 fps with 75 V-Max. Currently well supplied on Varget so I’m unsure if I should pick up the N140 or not, but plan on grabbing some N150 and 160 for sure.

If you have varget, by all means try it. I use the 75 hh for deer and varmint. I also use them in my 257ai. They work great on deer and varmint. Every bullet ive used on deer have destroyed heart lungs and fully penetrated. Also with hammers, you can get better speeds due to the low bore friction and even more with absolute hammers which are a bore rider bullet and ogive doesnt engrave. Hammers are also not sensitive to seating depth ime. I have some that jump .2+ due to mag length and shoot .5 or better. Hammer also has tipped versions which are new to the lineup. Use whatever your rifle likes. Good shooting.

 

[hpshooter]

Shot quite a few pounds of N135 thru my M1-A service rifle. Meters well, burns clean and was very consistent lot to lot.