Vihtavuori N310 or N320 for .45ACP?

9mmepiphany · Jun 14, 2019

I'm going to play with a .45ACP revolver. I've read some manuals and done some research and thought I'd ask to see if folks here had any leanings as to my choices.

I'm looking at pushing a 200gr bullet to about 800fps or a 230gr one at about 700fps...out of a 4" revolver.

On the VV website it looks like either will work.
I've also read that N310 is preferred only up to 200grs.
An accomplished competitor shared his preferred load as N310 under a 230gr bullet.

What I'm looking for is an accurate load with minimal recoil...with cleanliness being a bonus

TIA

Walkalong · Jun 14, 2019

They are both great in .45 ACP. N310 will work with 230 Gr, but less room for error than N320.

4.6 Grs N310 under a 185 gr Zero JHP @ 1.220 to 1.225 OAL gives 800ish FPS from a 5" 1911 or a 6" 1955 Target.

4.4 Grs N310 under a Berrys 200 Gr "HP" @ 1.200 OAL feeds in anything (Nice rounded profile) and shoots very well. 820 FPS from a 5" 1911

4.6 Grs N310 under a Berrys 185 Gr SWC @ 1.190 OAL gives 850ish FPS from a 5" 1911.

4.4 Grs N310 under a Ranier 200 Gr SWC @ 1.260 OAL gives 825ish from a 5" 1911.

5.7 Grs N320 under a Berrys 185 Gr SWC @ 1.190 OAL gives 850ish FPS in a 5" 1911.

5.6 Grs N320 under a Berrys 185 Gr SWC @ 1.190 OAL gives 975ish FPS from a 5" 1911.

I tried more than these, a lot more, but these all shot well. (Three or four stars in the load book)

The Berrys 185 Gr HBRN works well in moon clips, feeds int the gun smoothly, and shoots great. I was using WST, but either N310 or N30 should work.

Hopefully these results will help speed up starting powder charges.

As always. Check load data, be careful, use at your own risk.

Dudedog · Jun 15, 2019

N320 shot well for me in a 1911 with 230s.
But for that use (for me at least) HP38 shot just as well and was easier to find and cheaper.

jmorris · Jun 15, 2019

I use N310 and 45 GAP brass with 230’s in my 625’s. Good enough for a 1st place MA finish at Nationals.

GAP brass gives you small primers, shorter cases and require no tools to moon/demoon.

ATLDave · Jun 15, 2019

Following this one. I’ve been thinking about going to N320 for my 625 loads. My prior loads with small flake powders are leaving a little too much crud in the chambers, slowing reloads after a few cylinders. Does N320 burn clean (from a granules left perspective)?

docv · Jun 15, 2019

I have shot of lot of N320 through my 1911 using 180, 200, and 230 grain Lead SWCs and FMJs over the years. Good stuff. I stay near the low end of the published data and get good accuracy. This cleanliness thing you ask for is relative to how much clean you expect.

reddog81 · Jun 15, 2019

ATLDave said:
Following this one. I’ve been thinking about going to N320 for my 625 loads. My prior loads with small flake powders are leaving a little too much crud in the chambers, slowing reloads after a few cylinders. Does N320 burn clean (from a granules left perspective)?

I’ve been trying N320 & N340 lately in a model of 1955 I recently acquired. These powders are very clean burning and consistent. I haven’t noticed any unburnt powder like I did with Bullseye and HP-38.

9mmepiphany · Jun 15, 2019

jmorris said:
GAP brass gives you small primers, shorter cases and require no tools to moon/demoon.

I was looking seriously at going this route, but GAP brass isn't as easy to come by as I expected. All I have is 50 rounds I collected after a GSSF match

9mmepiphany · Jun 15, 2019

ATLDave said:
Does N320 burn clean (from a granules left perspective)?

This is why I'm looking at trying N310, moving on from WW 231/HP-38

docv said:
This cleanliness thing you ask for is relative to how much clean you expect.

What I'm looking for is enough clean that it doesn't interfere with ejecting and chambering during stages. Brushing out my chambers between every stage gets old after a while

Walkalong · Jun 15, 2019

Found this one.

4.2 Grs N310 and a Ranier 250 Gr (Leftover from .45 Colt.) @ 1.210/1.215 OAL with a WLP primer @ 70 degrees gave Hi=718, Lo=690, Avg=702, ES=28, SD=10 from a 4" 1911.

Noted light recoil.

5.2 Grs N320 gave an Avg of 733. A lot more powder for little gain.

Another one close to 230 Gr.

4.3 Grs N310 and an X-Treme 225 Gr TrFP @ 1.215 OAL with a WLP primer @ ?? degrees gave Hi=804, Lo=773, Avg=786, ES=31, SD=11 from a 5" 1911.

4.1 Grs N310 and an X-Treme 225 Gr TrFP @ 1.215 OAL with a WLP primer @ ?? degrees gave Hi=774, Lo=705, Avg=745, ES=69, SD=20 from a 5" 1911.

Same 4.1 with a Berrys 230 Gr RN with Fed 150s was also noted as light recoil and accurate, but I failed to chrono it or failed to write it down.

As always. Check load data, be careful, use at your own risk.

rfwobbly · Jun 15, 2019

9mmepiphany said:
What I'm looking for is enough clean that it doesn't interfere with ejecting and chambering during stages. Brushing out my chambers between every stage gets old after a while.

Then you'll be happy with the N300 series single-base powders from VihtaVuori. If you need to save some money, then the Vectan Ba series from Nobel Sport is also single-base. Look at Ba9-1/2. Grafs puts the Vectan on sale every 4 months or so for about half the price of VV.

docv · Jun 15, 2019

I need to gain a few pounds of experience with N310. OTOH, N320 is much much cleaner than WW231/HP-38 ever was in my pistols.

Walkalong · Jun 15, 2019

A lot of the reason for Vihtavuori's cleanliness is the quality of the base product, "gun cotton", used.

jmorris · Jun 16, 2019

9mmepiphany said:
I was looking seriously at going this route, but GAP brass isn't as easy to come by as I expected. All I have is 50 rounds I collected after a GSSF match

You won’t need a lot, it will last forever and you won’t loose it. Mooncliped brass is the only socially acceptable brass to pick up as soon as you are done showing clear and reholstering.

9mmepiphany · Jun 16, 2019

jmorris said:
Mooncliped brass is the only socially acceptable brass to pick up as soon as you are done showing clear and reholstering.

That is an often overlooked advantage to competing with moon clips. I was easily "losing" 800-1000 cases every year at matches

jmorris · Jun 16, 2019

I used to be the last guy to leave. After tear down and putting stuff up I’d clean the ground and berms.

I always came home with more brass and lead that I went with.

9mmepiphany · Jun 16, 2019

That worked at local matches, not so much at Sanctioned "Loss Brass" matches.

I need to go work another GSSF match

jmorris · Jun 17, 2019

9mmepiphany said:
That worked at local matches, not so much at Sanctioned "Loss Brass" matches.

I need to go work another GSSF match

That was generally at club matches. Although the largest haul I ever took in was after a lost brass State match.

Everyone got what they wanted using things like the bag a nut and nut wizard but the cracks in the ground left a lot behind. Two weeks later there were still lots out there and ai didn’t want them to return to the earth so I built a brass vacuum and sucked up 12 gallons of brass in 2 hours going from one crack to another.

Vihtavuori N310 or N320 for .45ACP?

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