VV n-160

[Jeff Porter]

N160 with 108 ELDM in a .243 gas gun has been a good combo for me.

 

[1shot]

I use it in the 6SLR which is a 243 with a 6BR neck length. It loves 105 Hybrid Bergers.

Lloyd

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

There are so many calibers you can use it for, if I could only buy one powder for the rest of my life it will be N160 and its very nice in a 243 size case with a 105/108gr bullet

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

My son shot, a 5 Shot, .277 Dia., ctr to ctr Group with,. my Factory, Tikka, T-3, in .243 Win. using N-160 and, a 87 gr. H-VLD Berger bullet. 2 years ago, I gave the Rifle to my 12 y/o grandson and,..
at 12 and again at, 13 y/o my Grandson, has Killed 2, Big bodied, Desert Muley's with, this Load.
Last One was, a Heavy horned, 4 x 5 ,.. 30+ inches Wide.
Plumsak from Sask, Canada, told me how "Sweet" THIS Bullet, Shot & killed, several years, ago !

 

[Bodhisafa]

Which powder works best for 105 through 115 grain (6 mm) bullets…N160 or N165?

Looking to do a 243 AI 28” barrel

 

[CJ6]

165

 

[Bill Norris]

Which powder works best for 105 through 115 grain (6 mm) bullets…N160 or N165?

Looking to do a 243 AI 28” barrel

I load VV-N165 in my 243AI with 115 gr DTACs.

 

[1shot]

I use both 160 and 165 in my 6SLR with good results. 160 w/105 class bullets, 165 w/110 and heavier.

 

[Bodhisafa]

Are you gentlemen competing with the 243 ?

 

[CJ6]

Are you gentlemen competing with the 243 ?

I do not. But the 243 AI isn't really suited for competition either. It would be hard on barrels if used that way. Not saying you can't, but I wouldn't.

 

[flatlander]

I've got a couple of custom bolt rifles in 6XC that shoot great with N160 & Sierra 107MKs or Berger 105 Hybrids; seems to make no difference whether I put loads for them together in cases fire-formed from 22-250, Norma brass from Tubb, or Peterson SRP cases. I don't get quite as much velocity with N160 as I can with H4350 or a few other powders, but the accuracy is above & beyond what I've gotten with anything else.

I inherited my dad's Rem M700 in 243 a few years ago - he bought it after seeing how my Win M70 in 243 shot while we were shooting prairie dogs. I made a Dasher out of my M70, then when that barrel got shot out, put a 6x47 bbl on it, so haven't shot a 243 in probably 30+yrs. But I need to get his M700 out and take it down to the range to see how it shoots with 87gr Hornadys...loaded over N160.

 

[SeabeeKen]

My 6XC shoots .1-.3 with N-150 and the 87 gr Berger depending on charge weight

 

[Laurie]

Are you gentlemen competing with the 243 ?

Not with the 'straight' 243, but I have a rifle ready to be run in and get some loads for in 6mm SLR (a 243 case with the shoulders pushed back, reformed to 30-degrees, and a much longer neck, ie a 6XC top end married to a slightly reduced capacity 243 case-body). N160, N165, and Czech Lovex S071 (the old pre-2004 Accurate Arms-XMR3100) will be the powders tried initially with 105-108s, and I hope to get it sorted this year.

The problem with the 243 and similar is that if you run the external ballistics apps, you find you have to really push MVs up to match the ballistics of a decent 6.5mm bullet, even more so, a decent 180gn 7mm. Do that, and the barrel life becomes really short for disciplines like F-Class. So, I'll be looking for precision first and foremost at below peak velocities to give mild recoil short to mid-range loads. With a 7.5 twist barrel, I could shoot 115s (or go to higher BC 105gn Hybrids), but I have lots of older Berger 105s and 108s plus recent 107gn SMKs, and no intention of buying any new bullets.

 

[Bill Norris]

Are you gentlemen competing with the 243 ?

Nope just shoot the 243AI with the gang locally for fun. I agree although accurate it probably would eat the barrel up fairly quick.

 

[1shot]

Are you gentlemen competing with the 243 ?

I have competed with the SLR (a 243 variant) since 2008

 

[Laurie]

I have competed with the SLR (a 243 variant) since 2008

More details, please.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Nope just shoot the 243AI with the gang locally for fun. I agree although accurate it probably would eat the barrel up fairly quick.

Bill, shot 243 for over 30 years in comp and hunting. Killed countless game with it. Won many local matches. I never needed these slow powders. Most accurate load in this rifle was a hornady 100 gr interlock and 35.5 gr of IMR-3031. Case fill was no where near full but it was a one hole tack driver taking game at 400 yds easily. As the barrel wore it became a 243ai. Impressive cartridge for sure.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I have also been shooting SLR in F class and LR steel since I don't know when, there will always be at least one in my safe. For Hunting the 243AI at full tilt is epic

 

[1shot]

More details, please.

What would you like to know?

 

[Laurie]

What would you like to know?

The basics - competition and steel max distances; bullet(s); barrel length / MV; approximate level of precision you get; barrel life (if known).