VV N140 vs. N150 for .223 and .308

[esromvre1]

240 is the best ticket for what your looking for

140

 

[D-4297]

I tried both 140 , and 150 in my .308 . Lapua srp brass , with 185 Jugg OTM's , and couldn't get the neck ( case ) to seal off . Had blow-back all over my bolt , and the chamber looked like the inside of a Cat smoke-stack . But I tried N-530 , and found it to be workable for both the Sierra #2156 and Berger 155 . Worked well with the 185's , but I haven't had the time to work up a regular useable load with it yet . VV says it performs extremely well in the lighter class bullets , so I'm wondering why it wouldn't be ideal for a .223 , also .

 

[Dave Zander]

That's the straightforward answer.

Having said that. I preferred N150 over N140 in 308 win for many years even though my view at the time was that possible MVs were reduced by >100 fps. It just performed so well for me in more than one rifle. Since that time, I have seen some staggering 308/155gn MVs produced by N150, way above what I ever imagined you a) could get into the case and b) achievable MVs. I can only assume a very long drop tube was used with the funnel. A friend who shoots F/TR at international level worked up such a load for his wife's F/TR rifle and she did very well with it indeed. He told me it wouldn't perform 'for toffee' in his rifle though when he gave it a try.

(Incidentally, both members of this marriage are now members of a UK F/TR team sponsored by Nammo Vihtavuori / Lapua using their components where possible. They and the rest of the team have obtained excellent scores up to 900 yards with the relatively low BC 175gn Lapua Scenar-L, although he reports it's a bit short of performance in the wind at 1,000. Lapua has a big gap in its bullet line to compete with the 185/200s from Berger and others unfortunately. When team members shoot the 175 'L', it's invariably small primer Lapua brass and N150.)

In 223, I found N150 excellent with 90s, but too slow burning for 75s and even marginally for 80s. Groups were good, but MVs too low.

Same for me 90 grain Bergers with N150 gave me best result over N140.

 

[misser]

VV140 works well enough in my 708 that i bought 4 more pounds of it . it put 5 under a nickel @100 with speer 130 bthp

 

[Lefty2506]

I load N540 in my 75gr .223 loads and get 2950 out of my 20" service rifle upper (223 wylde). I ran N140 as well, but that was 20 years ago. I remember the accuracy was great, but N540 was just a little faster. I don't recall what my powder charge is for N540, but its very near max per the VV reloading data, and its a challenge to fit it all in the case. That makes me think that with N150 you might run out of room first.

I don't load 308, but I do load for a 16" Encore chambered in 7-08 and N140 gave me AMAZING accuracy and noticeably better velocity than Varget. I ended up settling on N550 for that because it was a little faster yet, and accuracy was still 1 MOA or better which was "acceptable" for what I needed from that gun. In hind site, I should have stayed with N140 because it was noticeably more accurate.

One thing I've notices is that for both the N100 and especially the N500 powders, for me they have always given me the best accuracy at or near the top of their recommended charge weights.

 

[divingin]

VV N140 and N150, however, have not, and are in the same price bracket as Varget.

Man, what a difference 4 years makes...

Midway (used as an example) N140-8# = $326; Varget-8# = $449

 

[mtncwru]

Man, what a difference 4 years makes...

Midway (used as an example) N140-8# = $326; Varget-8# = $449

Ooooof. I wound up with 16 pounds of Shooter's World Precision Rifle, just in time to start grad school and put everything on the shelf for 2+ years. Sold the .308, and haven't gotten around to working up a load for the .223 yet!

 

[Dgd6mm]

Vit powder and don't look back. Buy it if you're in the market for powder now before it goes up.
It's the best deal out there and it's excellent powder.