Talk to me about VihtaVuori

[6.5_sWv]

Last weekend Graf's was running a free hazmat promo and my dad and I capitalized on that by ordering some primers and powder. For a while I've always read good things about VihtaVuori powders so I decided to try some. I figure since Alliant is rare as hens teeth and expensive, Id try something new. I currently load for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 7x57, 280 Ackley Imp, 8x57, and 338-06. I have enough reloading manuals and have seen several loads listed for the cartridges I mentioned. Im curious if anyone has loaded VV powder in any of these, and Im not looking for your loads, just your experiences. I have also consulted the online VV reloading data they have listed online. Good accuracy, clean burning, good velocity etc. I bought 1# of N150 / 2# of N160 / and 1# of N165. I bought 2# of the N160 because several manuals mention it for more than a few cartridges (6.5cm, 6.5x55, 280AI). If these do well, I might buy some of the N500 series later down the road, but for now I'll get my feet wet with the N100 series. If you have any input, Id appreciate it.
Thanks
Ben

 

[salmonchaser]

I’m transitioning to VV but to date I’ve just used N560 in my 300 HH. Good velocity , 3000 fps and accurate. just about out of RL 15 so I’ll be getting some VV 550 and 555 in my 375. Should also work in the 06. Seems like the 500 series gives better velocity.
Looking forward to your reviews.

 

[Joe C.]

Before Covid VV powders were what most other powders were compared to. It was the Cadillac of powders. Since Hodgdon and Alliant blew their prices sky high they have kinda been passed over. Hodgdon and Alliant invest so much in advertising that I think they have caused many to forget about VV powders. VV is still the Cadillac, they just didn’t raise their prices.

 

[michsteve]

Before Covid VV powders were what most other powders were compared to. It was the Cadillac of powders. Since Hodgdon and Alliant blew their prices sky high they have kinda been passed over. Hodgdon and Alliant invest so much in advertising that I think they have caused many to forget about VV powders. VV is still the Cadillac, they just didn’t raise their prices.

VV and Norma were considered the two best for consistency but now you can only get 1 of the 2 but like you said VV seemed to not raise their prices as much. One of the cheapest powders used to be the shooters world powders but they decided to join the over priced party.

 

[RL338]

What we have on the shelf here for Viht.
My son uses N140 (223 Wylde) and N160 for multiple calibers.
Myself N555 , N560 (not openned) and N570.

 

[Blkram]

I have limited first hand experience with VV powders so far, but what I have has been good.
Hasn't always provided the most accurate groups with various bullets in cartridges tried so far, but they have been acceptable (sub-MOA). (My load of WXR with 180 gr AB 0.442" groups at 100 yards)

If I recall correctly, the 500 series powders are double base powders that provide better velocities with less pressure than the 100 series single base powders.

I just bought a 8 lb jug of N555 at a decent price (compared to others today!) for use in the 25 Creedmoor with 115 -128 gr bullets when the rebarrel job is complete.

E.g., I have tried:

• N165 in 300 WSM with 180 gr AccuBonds (0.817" 3 shot groups at 100 yards) and Scirocco II (0.786" 3 shot groups at 100 yards)- both sub-MOA accuracy

Others I have yet to try are:

• N160
• N170
• N530
• N550
• N560
• N570

 

[AFG270]

I've had good success with N550 in my 22-250 and 243. Soon to give it a try in my 6.5 cm.

 

[6.5_sWv]

Thanks to everyone for chiming in. Im looking forward to trying out the VV powders. More experience / reports will gladly be welcomed

 

[West Fork]

Last weekend Graf's was running a free hazmat promo and my dad and I capitalized on that by ordering some primers and powder. For a while I've always read good things about VihtaVuori powders so I decided to try some. I figure since Alliant is rare as hens teeth and expensive, Id try something new. I currently load for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 7x57, 280 Ackley Imp, 8x57, and 338-06. I have enough reloading manuals and have seen several loads listed for the cartridges I mentioned. Im curious if anyone has loaded VV powder in any of these, and Im not looking for your loads, just your experiences. I have also consulted the online VV reloading data they have listed online. Good accuracy, clean burning, good velocity etc. I bought 1# of N150 / 2# of N160 / and 1# of N165. I bought 2# of the N160 because several manuals mention it for more than a few cartridges (6.5cm, 6.5x55, 280AI). If these do well, I might buy some of the N500 series later down the road, but for now I'll get my feet wet with the N100 series. If you have any input, Id appreciate it.
Thanks
Ben

Your first patch with the VV single base powders will come out black…..

VV single base powders are thought to be among the cooler burning powders available, and can produce low ES. The double base powders are considered among the hottest burning. Flame temp and throat erosion are a consideration among high volume shooters.

VV is good powder. Not necessarily better or worse than other brands. Just depends on our application. Right now VV is cheaper than other manufacturers but I expect price increases are on their way. If you like it, might want to stock up.

 

[Hunter26]

I have a couple pounds of N565 to try in my 6.5 & 7 PRC's. N565 has consistently been getting rave reviews for accuracy and velocity in those cartridges and others. It has a decoppering agent and is suppose to be temp stable. IIRC all their newer powders have the decoppering agent.

 

[ElmerThud]

Last weekend Graf's was running a free hazmat promo and my dad and I capitalized on that by ordering some primers and powder. For a while I've always read good things about VihtaVuori powders so I decided to try some. I figure since Alliant is rare as hens teeth and expensive, Id try something new. I currently load for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 7x57, 280 Ackley Imp, 8x57, and 338-06. I have enough reloading manuals and have seen several loads listed for the cartridges I mentioned. Im curious if anyone has loaded VV powder in any of these, and Im not looking for your loads, just your experiences. I have also consulted the online VV reloading data they have listed online. Good accuracy, clean burning, good velocity etc. I bought 1# of N150 / 2# of N160 / and 1# of N165. I bought 2# of the N160 because several manuals mention it for more than a few cartridges (6.5cm, 6.5x55, 280AI). If these do well, I might buy some of the N500 series later down the road, but for now I'll get my feet wet with the N100 series. If you have any input, Id appreciate it.
Thanks
Ben

I use Vihtavuori N550 for 6.5x55 & N560 in .25-06 excellent propellants that I moved to after the EU REACH system banned USA powders I was using - IMR4350/4831 so those propellants were no longer stocked in gun stores in the UK. VV N160 was a great propellant to use for .243

 

[SJB358]

Mike always raved about VV powders. I started dabbling some and now buy more and more of them. 570 is king in the 7 Mashburn super. 540 is an awesome 223 powder with heavies. As was said the price hike on others made me look at VV powders and I’ve found no reason to dislike them. They make great speed and seem to make easy accurate ammo. 560 is supposed to be THE powder for 270/280 stuff so that’s on my radar to grab a jug when I see it.

 

[Blkram]

I definitely need to run more QuickLoad data for my rifles with VV powders!
Starting with the 280 Rem, 150 gr AB and BT, and VN560...and then the 270 WSM...

 

[RL338]

I just bought a 8 lb jug of N555 at a decent price (compared to others today!) for use in the 25 Creedmoor with 115 -128 gr bullets when the rebarrel job is complete.

I’m currently running 44grs in Peterson SRP brass with 115gr BT. This is full case , N555 was designed for the Creedmoor’s but it is sure a tight fit.

 

[Blkram]

Online research showed N560 as a preferred powder, but QuickLoad showed better performance with N555 so ‘ll try it first. I just didn’t have any, but do have the N560 on hand. I’ll be sticking the LRP brass, for hunting here in the great white north.
Looking forward to seeing how it performs!
Ordered the barrel for the 25 CM this morning; Benchmark 5R barrel, 24” fluted hunting contour with 1:7.5 twist. Should be here about the time we get home from Africa!

 

[Backcast88]

I have a couple pounds of N565 to try in my 6.5 & 7 PRC's. N565 has consistently been getting rave reviews for accuracy and velocity in those cartridges and others. It has a decoppering agent and is suppose to be temp stable. IIRC all their newer powders have the decoppering agent.

565 is the ticket for 6.5 prc. Should work well in 7 prc also. 565 is what i shot in my Seekins 6.5 prc and shot many sub 1/2 moa groups with it. 59gr and a 140 ELD-M or 140 TGK was 2950+ fps.

I've also used n550 in 30-06. Great velocity. 165 bullets is 2900ish with 56.5gr. Still havent found a super accurate load with it. But velocity is good.

555 didnt work out in 30-06 for me. But its working great in 6.5cm for my buddy. Loading 130 SST for his daughter and getting good results.

I've played with n165 and 560. Got good velocity and accuracy in 6.5 PRC but stayed with 565 since it was a little easier to get locally for me.

 

[IdahoCTD]

N565 and H1000 produced nearly identical velocities with the same loads in a 6.5PRC when I tested them. I still prefer R-26 in a 6.5PRC but either of those two are a close second.

 

[Scrumbag]

Excellent powder and Vihtavouri website good for data.

 

[Blkram]

Ran the QL numbers for the 280 Rem tonight...and 270 WSM.
In the 280 Rem, with pressure up to 65K psi, max should be 61.6 gr of N560 for 3109 fps with the 150 gr BT or AB. (This is 45 fps faster than the max with Re-17, but uses 6.7 gr more powder to achieve this. Compared to other VV powders, this will potentially produce the best velocity.)
That is pushing it into 7mm Rem Mag territory!
Will have to see how it shoots in my Rem 700...

In the 270 WSM with the 140 gr AB, 68.0 gr of N560 will achieve 3216 fps in the 23" barrel of the Browning X Bolt All Weather at just under 65K psi. This is just 19 fps faster than the max load with Magnum powder, but uses 6.2 gr less powder.
N568 will produce a little more velocity (3249 fps) with a 75.5 gr charge. (I would need to acquire this powder to try.)
N570 will produce 3285 fps with a 76.6 gr charge. (I have this powder on hand.) This will potentially produce more than 200 fps gain over the factory ammo (which produces 3073 fps and 0.565" groups in my rifle), and drop 5.2" less at 500 yards with a 200 yard zero, while retaining 182 fps more velocity and 255 ft lbs of energy at that range.
Will have to see how these powders perform safely up to max in my rifle...and which will produce the best accuracy.

 

[Blkram]

After seeing the numbers for 270 WSM, I had to look at the 6.5 PRC, as the case capacity is similar...

The Nosler factory ammo with the 140 AB produced 0.632" 3 shot groups in my rifle (24" barrel) at 100 yards, at 2744 fps (spec'd at 2900 fps).
The following powders loaded to a max of 65K psi as per QuickLoad show:

1. N570 max charge of 64.2 gr producing 3148 fps (over 400 fps velocity gain!)
2. N568 max charge of 63.3 gr producing 3112 fps
3. N560 max charge of 57.1 gr producing 3082 fps
4. Compared to Re-26 max charge of 58.3 gr producing 3090 fps

The Nosler factory ammo with the 142 gr LRAB produces 0.480" 3 shot groups in my rifle at 100 yards, at 2921 fps (also spec'd at 2900 fps).
The following powders loaded to the same max of 65K psi as per QuickLoad show:

1. N570 max charge of 63.5 gr producing 3128 fps (over 200 fps velocity gain)
2. N568 max charge of 62.6 gr producing 3092 fps
3. N560 max charge of 56.4 gr producing 3057 fps
4. Compared to Re-26 max charge of 57.6 gr producing 3066 fps

I'll be trying these to see how they perform in my rifle, and if they maintain the accuracy that the factory loads do, given the higher velocities.