223 90gr Berger load

[Ajwilly96]

I know there are better choices that have been proven to work for powder with this combination but I searched the form and couldn’t really find any people using it

Does anyone have experience with this combination and VV N540 powder?

Rifle will be chambered with the Kiff ISSF reamer

 

[Ned Ludd]

I have personally never heard of anyone using N540 in a .223 with 90s, but that in no way means it hasn't been tried. It falls in the appropriate burn rate range, so it might work. The only questions I would have about its use for this purpose would be the size of the kernels/bulk density and its temperature-sensitivity characteristics. I recently purchased a couple pounds (each) of two VV powders to try in my .223 Rem and .308 Win F-TR rifles as potential alternatives to H4895 and Varget. I haven't gotten around to any testing yet, but even if they just work "OK", I can always use such loads for practice, thereby saving the Hodgdon powders for use in matches. If they work better than "OK", I might end up switching powders due to availability. In any event, buying a pound to test shouldn't be wasted money. Powder Valley currently has one pounders in stock:

Vihtavuori N540 Smokeless Gun Powder

Discerning shooters reload their ammo with Vihtavuori N540 smokeless powder from Powder Valley. Vihtavuori powder is available in 1lb canisters and 8lb jugs.

www.powdervalley.com

 

[Ajwilly96]

I have personally never heard of anyone using N540 in a .223 with 90s, but that in no way means it hasn't been tried. It falls in the appropriate burn rate range, so it might work. The only questions I would have about its use for this purpose would be the size of the kernels/bulk density and its temperature-sensitivity characteristics. I recently purchased a couple pounds (each) of two VV powders to try in my .223 Rem and .308 Win F-TR rifles as potential alternatives to H4895 and Varget. I haven't gotten around to any testing yet, but even if they just work "OK", I can always use such loads for practice, thereby saving the Hodgdon powders for use in matches. If they work better than "OK", I might end up switching powders due to availability. In any event, buying a pound to test shouldn't be wasted money. Powder Valley currently has one pounders in stock:

Vihtavuori N540 Smokeless Gun Powder

Discerning shooters reload their ammo with Vihtavuori N540 smokeless powder from Powder Valley. Vihtavuori powder is available in 1lb canisters and 8lb jugs.

www.powdervalley.com

I have a friend using N140 with fantastic results, what peaked my interest in N540 is it seems to produce the best velocities (also highest charge) of the VV powders in the load data with the listed charges

 

[paperpuncher]

@Laurie might have some input for you IIRC he did some testing with the VV offerings and the 223 cartridge

 

[Ned Ludd]

Another vote to ask @Laurie for information on this topic. If anyone knows, it will be him. He has posted links in the past to articles describing a whole bunch of testing he has done. I thought I had bookmarked those links, but now I can't find them. In any event, I hope he chimes in here.

 

[padom]

VV does have a free reloading app you can download with all their reloading data..

For 223rem
90 Berger
25" test barrel
N540
2.457"
20.7gr - 23.0gr

 

[Ajwilly96]

VV does have a free reloading app you can download with all their reloading data..

For 223rem
90 Berger
25" test barrel
N540
2.457"
20.7gr - 23.0gr

That’s what peaked my interest with the N540. But I was curious of real world experiences with it and velocity’s around 2800

 

[Zero333]

@ 2.450" COAL near max will be somewhere around 22.5 gr N-540 with those 90 gr Bergers.

Start at 21 and work up. If your COAL is less than 2.450" then reduce even more.... and if @ 2.450" it's in the lands, same reduction applies. Work up accordingly to you chamber / brass / primers / COAL / etc.

This is not a proven science, so do your diligence and don't take any chances.

With a 30" barrel you'll be anywhere between 2,750 and 2,800 fps... maybe more all depending on other circumstances.

 

[Ned Ludd]

@ 2.450" COAL near max will be somewhere around 22.5 gr N-540 with those 90 gr Bergers.

Start at 21 and work up. If your COAL is less than 2.450" then reduce even more.... and if @ 2.450" it's in the lands, same reduction applies. Work up accordingly to you chamber / brass / primers / COAL / etc.

This is not a proven science, so do your diligence and don't take any chances.

With a 30" barrel you'll be anywhere between 2,750 and 2,800 fps... maybe more all depending on other circumstances.

With 90 VLDs seated at ~.020" off the lands in the 223 Rem ISSF chamber, COL will be more like 2.630", not 2.450".

 

[Zero333]

With 90 VLDs seated at ~.020" off the lands in the 223 Rem ISSF chamber, COL will be more like 2.630", not 2.450".

Damn, 2.630" is a very long ways out !
Thanks for making this clear to me.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Damn, 2.630" is a very long ways out !
Thanks for making this clear to me.

It certainly is, and the loaded rounds look almost cartoonish. I enjoy showing loaded rounds to folks at the range not familiar with .223 Rem rounds loaded with heavies to see their repsonses, which usually include, "WTF is that?" (or something similar) LOL. The extra case volume from seating the bullets out ~0.180" longer (2.630" vs 2.450" COL) will make a noticeable difference in the calculations, which is why I commented on it in the post.

 

[Zero333]

It certainly is, and the loaded rounds look almost cartoonish. I enjoy showing loaded rounds to folks at the range not familiar with .223 Rem rounds loaded with heavies to see their repsonses, which usually include, "WTF is that?" (or something similar) LOL. The extra case volume from seating the bullets out ~0.180" longer (2.630" vs 2.450" COL) will make a noticeable difference in the calculations, which is why I commented on it in the post.

Now it makes sense.. @ 2.630" COAL, the 90 vld will be able to reach 2,800 fps with N-540. Tho going faster than 2,800 fps will trash the brass after a handful of reloads and fry the throat faster than anticipated.

I trashed 308w Lapua brass after 4 reloads running 155 Scenars @ 2,995 fps.

 

[Ajwilly96]

Now it makes sense.. @ 2.630" COAL, the 90 vld will be able to reach 2,800 fps with N-540. Tho going faster than 2,800 fps will trash the brass after a handful of reloads and fry the throat faster than anticipated.

I trashed 308w Lapua brass after 4 reloads running 155 Scenars @ 2,995 fps.

I have 300 lapua, but I’m also having 1000 5.56 starline being delivered tomorrow. If I can get decent results with starline, they are cheap enough to fire once or twice then trash

 

[Jdne5b]

I have 300 lapua, but I’m also having 1000 5.56 starline being delivered tomorrow. If I can get decent results with starline, they are cheap enough to fire once or twice then trash

They last a good bit longer than Lapua for me. I'm on my 9th firing but I do run the 90s just below 2800 so that probably helps.

 

[barefooter56]

That’s what peaked my interest with the N540. But I was curious of real world experiences with it and velocity’s around 2800

The rest of the "REAL WORLD" does not have your exact rifle. You never know what YOUR RIFLE make like unless you test. Keep in mind that the VV LOAD DATA IS ALL BASED-ON CIP COAL MAX MARGINS unless there is a combination long range caliber with a long range bullet without hunting applications with no magazine.
Our "unpublished load data" is based on a COAL of 2.461in. We dont have N-540 data listed yet. But can work it up for you. Contact us at: support@capstonepg.com.

 

[Zero333]

With 90 VLDs seated at ~.020" off the lands in the 223 Rem ISSF chamber, COL will be more like 2.630", not 2.450".

2.450' COAL was just an example because I use magazines in my 223rem bolt gun that allows almost up t 2.500".
I prefer VLD's because I don't need a super long throat/freebore for them and once the throat is fire-cracked I polish it and use non VLD's that allow me to double the life of the barrel.