Viht N 150 & my .308

[velocette]

My local range had a sale on Vihtavouri propellant, so I bought some to try. Stuff is usually more expensive than other powders but with the discount it was a good buy.
Did the usual ladder loads to find the velocity / accuracy node & got the best groups I have ever shot with the rifle. (DPMS LR 308, Criterion 24" bull barrel). Followed up & the groups were consistent & velocity was averaging 2625, SD of 11 with Sierra 175 TMKs magazine length & 42.9 gr VV N 150, Win case & CCI 200 primer.
So I got great accuracy, good consistency & a bargain price. As they say on the TV, "But wait, there's more!" Three separate occasions, after 60 ~ 70 rounds each, cleaning the rifle was FAR easier than any other propellants. No difference in copper fouling (almost none with this barrel) but the carbon fouling was minimal and come out very easily.
Maybe that VV powder is worth the premium price.

 

[Comrade Terry]

Maybe that VV powder is worth the premium price.

I like it in certain applications. N140 does well for me in .308Win. Never tried N150, because I couldn't get any.

 

[SteveOak]

I presently use N150 in a 6BR with a DTAC 115. Since I also shoot loads with Varget (Sierra 107) at the same match I can't comment on N150 being cleaner in this instance but in the past I have used N160, and N550, both of which were the cleanest powders I have ever used.

 

[Laurie]

We use more Vihtavuori powders than any other make in the UK thanks to competitive pricing and excellent availability over long periods, any shortage of an individual grade invariably being short-lived until a new factory production lot arrives. It is also outstandingly consistent lot to lot, so people buy it a Kg (2.2lb) bottle at a time and are unconcerned about its being available or a different lot when they need more a year or two later.

There was a move towards Hodgdon, especially the 'key trio' - VarGet, H4350, and H4831sc - by many top level competitors in recent years, plus some specialist slow grades such as H1000. Most club shooters use Viht though. However, thanks to Accurate Shooter's cartridge guides and other online information, Hodgdon was often the first choice where it was indicated as the 'go to' grade - eg H. VarGet in 6 BR and its variants. However, the shortage years sickened many here off Hodgdon's product range. H4895 / 4350 / 4831 / VarGet were virtually unobtainable for a continuous period of over 18 months and when a small shipment did arrive and was distributed to gunshops, they were sold out in 48 hours or less. People switched to IMR equivalents, but within a matter of weeks the more popular grades were in exactly the same (unobtainable / occasional small deliveries) as Hodgdon back in the summer of 2012 through to 2014 or later.

So we saw a large return to Viht - and surprise, surprise we've lost nothing, especially as Nitrochemie Wimmins' 'Reload Swiss' powders were just starting to be introduced - and they are GOOD! RS52 beats VarGet and RS62 is better in the round than H4350. Viht N150 is very popular in 308 FTR especially with small primer brass and 185/200gn Bergers, but I'll use this grade with any bullet weight in 308 for 155gn and heavier - outstanding groups and MV spreads. Reload Swiss RS52 is my high-MV 308 Win FTR choice for bullets like the 168gn Hybrid, and it is also my first choice for 90gn bullets in 223 Rem FTR loads, but N150 works very well too in this combination. 6 BR shooters, myself included, shifted almost across the board to N150 with 105-108s some time back and consider it at least as good as, more likely superior to H4895 and VarGet in this role, despite being too slow burning on the face of it.

As of now, we have lost ALL Hodgdon / ADI Extreme/extruded grades, most Hodgdon 'spherical' grades, all Winchester powders, and all IMR grades bar the new 'Endurons' (of which we only have three actually available as yet) thanks to new EU regulations that come into force in six days time, but saw imports actually stop last year or early this year. The only thing we lack is a really good single-based slow powder for the 284, 7 SAUM/WSMs and similar to replace H4831sc - Nitrochemie has RS70, but it is a 'high-energy' infused nitroglycerin type, same as Reloder 17 but nearer Re22's burning rate. Nitrochemie is looking to fill this gap. Capstone Precision in MO (the Nammo Oy holding group for Berger Bullets, Vihtavuori, Lapua and SK rimfire) is obviously working on sorting out Vihtavuori distribution across the USA after past issues, so hopefully more US shooters can try these fine propellants.