VV 550 - good for what?

[SmokinJoe]

Also works very well in 204R with 40 gr bullet very well.

 

[Laurie]

Also works very well in 204R with 40 gr bullet very well.

I never tried N550 in the 204. An early go with 40gn Berger BTs and N140 provided outstanding results in terms of group size and I simply stopped load development there. This was a mild load at low (by 204 standards) MVs and which often produced sooted cases.

This was in an early production out of the box Savage 12 LRPV that was left literally as Savage shipped it. I didn't even play with the Accutrigger and left it at the factory 12 oz setting. The only play was with stock bolt torque settings using Stan Pate's method as featured a few times on the AccurateShooter site. It was used in 'Factory Class' 100 yard BR and gave me many 5-match aggs in the threes and fours on a fiendishly tricky range for wind. The best single comp group was an officially measured 0.207".

My lowest ever 5-shot group with this rifle was during testing when I got one in the ones with the 39gn VMax and (I think) H322. It was a fluke - many subsequent attempts to replicate and refine the load combination struggled to get below 0.4".

 

[Chocdawg]

I've been using N550 in my 6.5x47L prone rifle with 140 VLD Target bullets and very pleased with results at 1K. Comparable charges of Varget and IMR 4350 have been good performers also.

 

[Baer45]

Thanks, VV said it was really successful in 6.5x47L...I love berger 140 hybrids so I’ll give it a try

 

[seymour fish]

Thanks, VV said it was really successful in 6.5x47L...I love berger 140 hybrids so I’ll give it a try

Mighty fine in a 22-250 Ackley with 55-60 gr also. Seymour

 

[ronemus]

I use N-550 in .223 with 75 gr bullets (Hornady BTHP from the magazine and A-Max single-loaded) in my 28" AR barrel for NRA Highpower & Long Range. It's the only powder I found that will keep the heavies supersonic at 1000 yards with sane pressures. R-15 is close but not quite there, and there isn't enough case capacity with Varget, H-4350, R-17, etc. to get the necessary velocity (>2900 fps).

 

[Baer45]

I use N-550 in .223 with 75 gr bullets (Hornady BTHP from the magazine and A-Max single-loaded) in my 28" AR barrel for NRA Highpower & Long Range. It's the only powder I found that will keep the heavies supersonic at 1000 yards with sane pressures. R-15 is close but not quite there, and there isn't enough case capacity with Varget, H-4350, R-17, etc. to get the necessary velocity (>2900 fps).

That is a real good piece of advice

 

[USMCDOC]

i remember when i was first shooting highpower.. i was shooting a 284 at 600 yards.. it was a factory barrelled rem action in 7mm08 rechambered to 284. the load that i was using was


Danny Biggs was coaching and Corbin Shell was scoring.. shot a 199-?? x count.. But after shooting, Corbin was like.. man what load are you shooting, those bullets looked like a laser beam going to the target. That was with a factory barrel i repeat.. i didn't have the sling adjusted right, my left hand was like numb for three weeks after that day..

 

[Mandoman]

I accidentally bought 3# of vv550 thinking it was 555. Are there any calibers this powder shoots exceptionally well in? Is it a favorite with certain weight bullets? Any feedback from anyone who uses it would be helpful...

I've just started using N550 (did the same thing you did). So far I'm cautiously impressed. For my 300WSM and 210gr Berger VLDs I loaded 1 full grain less than my normal H4350 load and got about the same MV (2800fps) with very good ES and SD. Can't say if my results are statistically significant yet but I'm planning to continue using N550 to see if the number hold up.

 

[SteveUrban]

A full 5.56 case and a JLK 80 on top.

 

[357Mag]

I accidentally bought 3# of vv550 thinking it was 555. Are there any calibers this powder shoots exceptionally well in? Is it a favorite with certain weight bullets? Any feedback from anyone who uses it would be helpful...

Baer -

Howdy !

FWIW -

Years ago when I asked.... I was told by Kaltron-Pettibone that a " notional " VV555 powder was not exported for the U.S. Market. IF memory serves... It was known around Scandinavia as " 24N64 ".

Perhaps others have more current information ?

With regards,
357Mag

 

[muleystalker]

6.5 Creedmoor w/130 Norma VLD @ 3,100 fps (1,000 yard Match load)

.308 Win. w/230 gr. A-Tip @ 2,550 fps (testing against the 215 Bergers)

You can load the 6.5x47 with this powder but you lose 100 fps to the Creedmoor.

I'm testing the 147 gr. Hornady's again but I'm not holding my breath... 2,900 fps

I have about 2500 of the 130 Norma Golden Target bullets, I might have to give the N550 a try in my Creedmoor.

 

[DocBII]

Baer -

Howdy !

FWIW -

Years ago when I asked.... I was told by Kaltron-Pettibone that a " notional " VV555 powder was not exported for the U.S. Market. IF memory serves... It was known around Scandinavia as " 24N64 ".

Perhaps others have more current information ?

With regards,
357Mag

357Mag,

I obtained a couple pounds of early N-555 in the 90s. Worked much better than N-550 in the 308 Win I was shooting at the time. It was also mentioned in some of the rifle/reloading magazines at the time.

Never ran across any more after the initial couple of pounds until after the announcement in the 2020s it would be available again. I haven't tried it since, and stayed with N-550 with really heavies in 308. Went to Alliant MR-2000 in the .223s, I'm not currently willing to spend what it takes to buy an experimental powder.

Good luck in your endeavors,
DocBII

 

[357Mag]

357Mag,

I obtained a couple pounds of early N-555 in the 90s. Worked much better than N-550 in the 308 Win I was shooting at the time. It was also mentioned in some of the rifle/reloading magazines at the time.

Never ran across any more after the initial couple of pounds until after the announcement in the 2020s it would be available again. I haven't tried it since, and stayed with N-550 with really heavies in 308. Went to Alliant MR-2000 in the .223s, I'm not currently willing to spend what it takes to buy an experimental powder.

Good luck in your endeavors,
DocBII

Docbill -
Howdy !

Thanx for the update !

Good info to know, fer sher ! I have yet to encounter some.

Best of luck, in your endeavors !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[SeabeeKen]

N-550 is good for nothing. Send it to me for disposal

 

[tthomp302]

I use n550 in my 7 SAW. It is a great replacement for H4350 in that size of case. I get great SD and velocity with it.

 

[Laurie]

I obtained a couple pounds of early N-555 in the 90s. Worked much better than N-550 in the 308 Win I was shooting at the time. It was also mentioned in some of the rifle/reloading magazines at the time.

Wolfe's Handloader had a short feature on this experimental N555 around that time, that intrigued me and spurred a re-read after N555 appeared a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if today's production N555 is the same thing or not though.

 

[F Class John]

I’ve used it successfully in 6.5prc/7mm variants including 7prcw and improved versions.

 

[ronemus]

I use N-550 in .223 with 75 gr bullets (Hornady BTHP from the magazine and A-Max single-loaded) in my 28" AR barrel for NRA Highpower & Long Range. It's the only powder I found that will keep the heavies supersonic at 1000 yards with sane pressures. R-15 is close but not quite there, and there isn't enough case capacity with Varget, H-4350, R-17, etc. to get the necessary velocity (>2900 fps).

I've recently done a brief workup with Reloder 15.5, and found that it's even better than N-550 in my .223 loads. It is a bit denser and 1 gr less is needed to make velocity. My loads with N-550 are mildly compressed, but not with RL-15.5. If you're not finding N-550, RL-15.5 may be a good substitute.