VV Powders

[bluegrassdan]

I am not a VV shooter, its always been too hard to find or too expensive or the powder I have seemed to work well enough I just never switched. I am now going to keep my Reloader 26 for the 280AI. So, I bought 3lbs of N560 for the 7 SAUM and the 160/175 gr bullets I have been shooting in the 280. How do VV powders like standard primers for charges in the 60gr range? I tried magnum primers when I shot a lot of F class with a .284 and the Berger 180gr, slightly less powder (H4831sc) but it made shot to shot vertical changes. I went back to BR2's and things went back to very low vertical dispersion. So, I put them away and have not had a thought to get them back out. I do know that in my 338 ELR builds, Reloader 26 likes a magnum primer, same for the Reloader 33, but I am also loading 103gr of powder, so its almost required that you use a magnum primer.

 

[std7mag]

Well, from what I have heard in the past people are getting good results with regular large primers in cartridges like 7mm Rem Mag.

I use Fed 210M in my 257 Roberts and 25-06 with Vihtavouri N555.

 

[44hunter45]

I have pretty much switched from Alliant to Viht as my hoard of RL-26 has dwindled. I am only using Viht in magnum cartridges. I use CCI 250's exclusively.

Since I'm making hunting loads, I load for a balance of velocity and accuracy. I get outstanding velocities and sub MOA accuracy in high volume cases with the stuff. I doubt any of my loads would satisfy an F class competitor.

I will be re-working all my .30-06 loads at some point and plan to start with V530 and CCI 200's.

 

[bluegrassdan]

I have pretty much switched from Alliant to Viht as my hoard of RL-26 has dwindled. I am only using Viht in magnum cartridges. I use CCI 250's exclusively.

Since I'm making hunting loads, I load for a balance of velocity and accuracy. I get outstanding velocities and sub MOA accuracy in high volume cases with the stuff. I doubt any of my loads would satisfy an F class competitor.

I will be re-working all my .30-06 loads at some point and plan to start with V530 and CCI 200's.

This will be mainly for a moose hunt, so they don't need to be 1 hole groupers, just a accurate as I can make them with the equipment I have for the hunt. I have never used their powders before, so I am asking everyone I know that shoots it if there are any quirks I need to know about.

 

[WapitiBob]

I used WW, Fed 215's and CCI 250's in my 7STW. The WW were about .0005 smaller dia. than the 215's so they got sold. The 215's shot fine with N570, then I loaded up some with the CCI's, shot at 600 and the groups were better so that's what I've been shooting for the last year +.
No quirks with N570, it's the magic sauce with big 7's and 195's. Never tried N560.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I've primarily used 210m with my 7 saum behind h1000 or h4831. I tended to get a little more consistent velocity with the 210s previously in 6.5 saum so I stuck with the same in the 7mm version without doing detailed comparison. I'd consider magnum primers with 60+ grains of a double based powder like n560 though?

Sorry, not much help, just spitballing.

 

[Kimber7man]

I am not a VV shooter, its always been too hard to find or too expensive or the powder I have seemed to work well enough I just never switched. I am now going to keep my Reloader 26 for the 280AI. So, I bought 3lbs of N560 for the 7 SAUM and the 160/175 gr bullets I have been shooting in the 280. How do VV powders like standard primers for charges in the 60gr range? I tried magnum primers when I shot a lot of F class with a .284 and the Berger 180gr, slightly less powder (H4831sc) but it made shot to shot vertical changes. I went back to BR2's and things went back to very low vertical dispersion. So, I put them away and have not had a thought to get them back out. I do know that in my 338 ELR builds, Reloader 26 likes a magnum primer, same for the Reloader 33, but I am also loading 103gr of powder, so its almost required that you use a magnum primer.

I’m now using F210M with VV N560 in the 7SAUM - 168 ABLR and 175 elite hunter. The 175 shoots lights out with 59.5 R23 and the 210M but is 75-100 fps slower than the N560. Am also switching to the 210M with 66 grains N560 in the 7PRC.

For my 6.5PRC, I use the 210M with 58.5 grains N565 and the 156 EOL, and also 58.3 grains N560 and the 140 elite hunter.

 

[Sheltowee]

What are y'all seeing for temp stability with the VV powders? That's the one wrinkle that has scared me off of them.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

What are y'all seeing for temp stability with the VV powders? That's the one wrinkle that has scared me off of them.

Varies by powder and I dont think Viht has done a good job marketing this aspect. I believe at least some of the N1XX series powder had updates in the last decade making them more temp stable. N555, N565, N570 are generally regarded as pretty temp stable powders. N540, N550, N560 not so much.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I’ve just switched to vv560 for my 300HH. Max listed load gave me 3100fps with a 180TTSX and just a little slower with 180 Accubond with just a hint of sticky bolt, so I backed off some. Accuracy is very good.
I’ll be trying it soon in my 338 Jarrett. That rifle gives 2950 pushing 250gr. Accubonds. Interested to see what the 560 will give given the velocity increase in the HH.

 

[bluegrassdan]

This is something I was wondering as well. I stopped using some of the earlier Reloader series powders for the temp instability issues (RE15 in particular). I have not seem much variation in the reloader 26 or 33, but then most of my shooting with these powders has been what I consider fair weather shooting in the 55°F to 80°F range.

 

[std7mag]

This is something I was wondering as well. I stopped using some of the earlier Reloader series powders for the temp instability issues (RE15 in particular). I have not seem much variation in the reloader 26 or 33, but then most of my shooting with these powders has been what I consider fair weather shooting in the 55°F to 80°F range.

That's why they make dope sheets.

I hunt/shoot from 18°-95°f.
The only powder that was truly unacceptable for me is CFE223.
ES & SD were never anywhere near what I wanted. And after finding a load at 50° that was just ok, I started popping primers at 80°. Used what I had left as lawn fertilizer.

I have Hodgdon, IMR, Ramshot, Winchester, Alliant, and Vihtavouri powders. I'll shoot any of them in pretty much any weather condition.

 

[bluegrassdan]

Most of my non hunting shooting has been some competition or another and it did not click early on as to the why of the problem. It was not until I really started to pay attention, started keeping a log book for each barrel, to include my customers rifles when I started gunsmithing and building custom rifles, did I see a clearer picture of how temp sensitivity with some powders impacted performance. I always kept a dope book, that was beat into my skull by the rifle team coach in the Army, but until I started to load my own ammo, I always assumed it was something I was doing position wise that made my impacts wander. After I started building rifles and keeping a log book on every barrel, it really dawned on me that powder temp sensitivity played a larger role in accuracy than I had previously thought. The Reloader 15 I was using in my AR's for service rifle seemed to be fine, but when I switched to bolt guns, not being able to open the bolt in August when the load shot just fine in April, was the light bulb moment.

 

[Kimber7man]

Update.

66.0 grains N560/F210M/168 ABLR gave me 2,902 in my 21” 7 PRC.
Same load with 175 EH gave me 2,880.

Pretty dang good.

O.5 grains more gave me about 40 fps more velocity with both loads.

I’m taking the 66 grain load to Wyoming next week.

 

[bluegrassdan]

I tested the N560 from 61gr to 62gr with 175 ELD-x and I must say, the SD of 6.4, ES of under 12fps and MV was 2990-3025fps, zero signs of pressure, I am very happy with this powder.

 

[gwhunter]

I have a 6.5prc, 24". I started with 565. Velocity didn't end up where I wanted it to. Switched to 560. Tried it both with Regular primers and magnum primers (9 1/2M is all my shop had at the time of the shortage when I was making this round). Tried both primers. My rounds shot at a slightly higher velocity with the magnum primers. Accuracy change was negligible as my rifle can shoot better than me off bags at 100yds. I was looking for velocity. 139(136)gr Hammer Shock/Stone Hunter, 57gr N560, 9 1/2M. 3250fps.

 

[Kimber7man]

7SAUM, F215M, ADG brass, 22” barrel, TBAC Dominus

175 EH loads:
60.0 N560 = 2,804 fps
60.5 N560 = 2,832
61.0 N560 = 2,865
61.5 N560 = 2,885
62.0 N560 = 2,915
63.0 N560 = 2,971 (sticky)
58.5 R23 = 2,780
59.0 R23 = 2,800
59.5 R23 = 2,838

168 ABLR loads:
61.0 N560 2,885
58.7 R23 2,825
59.0 R23 2,847
59.3 R23 2,860
59.6 R23 2,876

 

[Bater]

I picked up a pound of 560 to mess with in 300WSM and 7SAUM, but it’s rumored lack of temp stability has me a little worried. I plan to test it in temp extremes myself to see if it’s really an issue.

 

[17remhunter]

I am not a VV shooter, its always been too hard to find or too expensive or the powder I have seemed to work well enough I just never switched. I am now going to keep my Reloader 26 for the 280AI. So, I bought 3lbs of N560 for the 7 SAUM and the 160/175 gr bullets I have been shooting in the 280. How do VV powders like standard primers for charges in the 60gr range? I tried magnum primers when I shot a lot of F class with a .284 and the Berger 180gr, slightly less powder (H4831sc) but it made shot to shot vertical changes. I went back to BR2's and things went back to very low vertical dispersion. So, I put them away and have not had a thought to get them back out. I do know that in my 338 ELR builds, Reloader 26 likes a magnum primer, same for the Reloader 33, but I am also loading 103gr of powder, so its almost required that you use a magnum primer.

Ive been using VV 120 in my 17 Hornet for some years is super consistent