N530 for the .250 Savage

[taylorce1]

So I'm dropping bullet weight to find a varmint load. I've got two pounds of this powder that I bought for my 6X47 when I couldn't find my normal H322 for it. Before I ran out of H322 I managed to score five more pounds.

So I've got two pounds of N530 to burn and I was thinking of using it with 75-87 grain bullets. However I can't find much data on the .250 Savage with VV Powders, they don't even list the .250 Savage on their downloadable data. Anyone tried this or have a good place to start with this powder or should I look for something different?

 

[truck driver]

Ask Mike to run you a quick load and see what he comes up with. It probably isn't recommended by VV so they show no data for it.

 

[taylorce1]

It's supposed to have a similar burn rate to BLC2, and I have some data on that for the 75-85 grain bullets.

 

[DrMike]

Cartridge          : .250 Savage
Bullet             : .257, 85, Nosler BalTip 43004
Useable Case Capaci: 40.423 grain H2O = 2.625 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.515 inch = 63.88 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder             : Vihtavuori N530

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   74    27.60   2488    1168   27941   7019     87.9    1.322
-18.0   75    28.29   2548    1225   29706   7246     89.2    1.290
-16.0   77    28.98   2607    1283   31570   7468     90.4    1.259
-14.0   79    29.67   2667    1342   33550   7685     91.5    1.229
-12.0   81    30.36   2726    1403   35650   7895     92.5    1.199
-10.0   83    31.05   2786    1465   37883   8098     93.5    1.169
-08.0   85    31.74   2846    1528   40253   8294     94.5    1.136
-06.0   87    32.43   2905    1593   42770   8482     95.3    1.104
-04.0   88    33.12   2964    1658   45444   8660     96.1    1.074  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   90    33.81   3023    1725   48285   8829     96.8    1.044  ! Near Maximum !
+00.0   92    34.50   3082    1793   51305   8988     97.5    1.016  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   94    35.19   3141    1862   54518   9136     98.1    0.989  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   96    35.88   3200    1932   57938   9273     98.6    0.962  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0   98    36.57   3258    2004   61580   9397     99.0    0.937  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0   99    37.26   3316    2076   65463   9509     99.4    0.912  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0  101    37.95   3374    2149   69606   9607     99.6    0.888  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     92    34.50   3225    1962   60658   8911     99.9    0.945  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     92    34.50   2895    1582   42246   8652     91.3    1.109

Cartridge          : .250 Savage
Bullet             : .257, 85, Nosler BalTip 43004
Useable Case Capaci: 40.423 grain H2O = 2.625 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.515 inch = 63.88 mm
Barrel Length      : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 50000 psi, or 344 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 107 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

2 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-17                 104.4     40.8     2.64    3168    95.9    50000   10262   1.007  ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17                           104.4     40.8     2.64    3168    95.9    50000   10262   1.007  ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550                    106.2     40.4     2.62    3122    93.6    50000    9857   1.022  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895                            97.9     36.5     2.36    3106    95.8    50000    9540   1.029  ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511                105.8     42.0     2.72    3104    90.9    50000    9807   1.016  ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760                     103.4     40.8     2.64    3103    89.8    50000    9732   1.017  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414                       103.4     40.8     2.64    3103    89.8    50000    9732   1.017  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2                       93.6     38.0     2.47    3101    97.0    50000    9435   1.029  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old                      101.4     38.2     2.48    3100    96.8    50000    9464   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3                         101.4     38.2     2.48    3100    96.8    50000    9464   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064                      101.6     37.0     2.40    3099    99.4    50000    9217   1.059  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495                       95.7     34.9     2.26    3097   100.0    50000    8924   1.063  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203B                          99.2     37.0     2.39    3093    95.7    50000    9419   1.030  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903                      103.7     38.2     2.48    3091    96.5    50000    9361   1.037  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520                       93.9     36.9     2.39    3089    98.6    50000    9102   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D073.6                        96.1     36.9     2.39    3089    98.6    50000    9102   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-15                  98.6     36.7     2.38    3088    95.0    50000    9406   1.030  ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA11                        98.6     36.7     2.38    3088    95.0    50000    9406   1.030  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP11 ~approximation          98.6     36.7     2.38    3088    95.0    50000    9406   1.030  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355                       103.0     37.6     2.43    3076    96.3    50000    9264   1.036  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380                       100.0     38.1     2.47    3064    93.2    50000    9307   1.034  ! Near Maximum !
Elcho TR140 - preliminary data      99.3     38.2     2.48    3046    93.4    50000    9062   1.031  ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP                          107.0     39.4     2.56    3044    92.4    46285    9539   1.052  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 201                           92.1     35.1     2.27    3044    97.2    50000    8917   1.045  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation         107.0     39.4     2.56    3043    92.4    46237    9533   1.053  ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350                      107.0     39.9     2.58    3037    92.4    45202    9620   1.072  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R902                       98.0     35.2     2.28    3035    97.1    50000    8813   1.046  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R901                       94.0     33.3     2.16    3035    98.9    50000    8672   1.057  ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 7                    94.1     37.6     2.44    3031    93.1    50000    8962   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204                          107.0     41.2     2.67    3027    85.9    49458    9221   1.024  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065                         106.0     38.7     2.50    3027    92.0    50000    9028   1.040  ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter                     107.0     41.2     2.67    3027    89.5    46428    9539   1.051  ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070                         107.0     39.4     2.56    3017    89.9    48780    9149   1.050  ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907                      104.2     38.1     2.47    3002    89.0    50000    8871   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7                         104.2     38.1     2.47    3002    89.0    50000    8871   1.038  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC                       100.9     38.1     2.47    3001    89.0    50000    8863   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350                           107.0     39.7     2.57    2992    88.3    48334    8875   1.039  ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation       107.0     40.5     2.62    2987    88.1    46713    9076   1.055  ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365                       107.0     39.7     2.57    2974    94.8    41094    9580   1.106
Accurate 2700                      100.6     39.1     2.54    2944    88.6    50000    8303   1.044  ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                107.0     38.6     2.50    2933    93.4    42447    8862   1.093
Hodgdon H4350                      107.0     39.0     2.53    2930    86.9    45441    8667   1.068  ! Near Maximum !

 

[truck driver]

Looks like you might be able to run some of those over max loads in the bolt action. 3200fps would be very fast for a 250.

 

[taylorce1]

Thanks Dr Mike! I thought it might work just was striking out online. I was going to send an email out if I couldn't find a good starting point. I'm happy if I can reach 3K, I don't think a coyote or prairie dog will notice a 200 fps difference.

 

[DrMike]

I use a lot of VhitaVuori powders, though I haven't loaded for the .250 Savage yet. I wouldn't hesitate to look at VN530, but I note that VN550 might give me somewhat higher velocities (3100+ fps???). It could be a powerhouse for reaching out. I do agree, however, that game won't recognise the difference of a couple hundred fps.

 

[taylorce1]

Thanks again DM, I usually don't buy VV powders as there is a large price difference between it and the other standard powders I use. I try to buy 8lb Kegs whenever possible but I usually only spend around $20-24 a pound when I buy powders by Alliant, Hogdon, IMR, Win, and Ramshot but this powder cost me nearly $32 per pound after tax. Unless this powder does something miraculous with my loads I doubt I buy anymore when I burn it up.

 

[DrMike]

FWIW, we pay up to $119 for two pounds of VhitaVuori powder. I see the present price for N530 is $94 plus shipping. Your price would be a bargain to me. And I still am willing to pay that price, as it is that good.

 

[taylorce1]

FWIW, we pay up to $119 for two pounds of VhitaVuori powder. I see the present price for N530 is $94 plus shipping. Your price would be a bargain to me. And I still am willing to pay that price, as it is that good.

OUCH!!!! :shock:

I pay barely over that for most kegs of powder.

I won't complain anymore.









Well not too much anyway. :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

Components can be pricey here in the far north!