Vihtavuori Powder…do you use it?

I discovered a somewhat local gun store in June of 2020, early in the pandemic, when primers were still available in the mid-$30s. I'd never heard of them before (been here 25 years at the time), but I was desperately seeking more VV N320, and found them listed in the Capstonepg.com dealer listing...the US Distributor for Vihtavuori Powder. Country Attic Treasures sounds more like an antique store than a guns shop...but they are, indeed, a gun shop, and in June 2020 had a wall filled with powder, including lots of VV, but alas, no N320. By August they'd received some 1lbs and gave me a call. I've been a customer ever since and make the pilgrimage regularly.
They haven't had a drop of powder in 6-7 months, and no VV powders since late 2020.
Still, if your shop is showing up with powders....there's hope for my remote LGS. I'll have to start visiting more frequently.

I reload for 38spec and 45. I use N310 for my lead loads in 45 because it's fast burning and significantly cleaner than Bullseye (3.8-4gr under 185gr and 200gr SWC). I may experiment to see if shooting N310 after BE cleans the gun!

N310 is temperature sensitive. With our bullseye matches in NC ranging from the 40s to the 90s, that is a consideration.

South Prairie Jim said:

VV is top quality powder,

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I guess I'm scratching my head here... Is there really a 'middle of the road' or 'bargain bin discount' powder out there, in terms of quality? I would think powder manufacturers produce some of the most 'quality' product on the planet, given the alternative.

Charlie98 said:

I guess I'm scratching my head here... Is there really a 'middle of the road' or 'bargain bin discount' powder out there, in terms of quality? I would think powder manufacturers produce some of the most 'quality' product on the planet, given the alternative.

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We hear a lately about shooters world and accurate brands although I’ve not tried them , yet anyway…

I have used N150 in rifles and N320 and N350 in pistols. I find it clean burning and consistent. I really like it. It also seems that in comes to our shores regularly. If you watch for it you can get it even during this current lean stretch. I have used it for over a decade and have not had the problems Slamfire did with his N140

IALoder said:

I very much like VV N135, N140, and N150. Clean, accurate, and consistent for me. I have a lb of N110 I'm trying in the Ruger 44 Mag Carbine, and am VERY interested in N320 for 9mm plinking ammo. If I see a lb locally I'll definitely buy one to try. N340 seems to fit what you're trying to do with hot 9mm and .357 mag pretty well!

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I have been using N320 in 45 acp and 45 LC . I worked up the long colt stuff with a chrono. very nice stuff.

Charlie98 said:

I guess I'm scratching my head here... Is there really a 'middle of the road' or 'bargain bin discount' powder out there, in terms of quality? I would think powder manufacturers produce some of the most 'quality' product on the planet, given the alternative.

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The "Shooter's World" powders are intriguing. I have no experience with them but intend to get some.

I use their 150 in 338-06 exclusively.....it stands out from every thing else I've tried in it

I used N310 for my .45. But, I couldn't get a decent group with my handgun using it. It meters very well btw.

It's the gold standard sir

I use a lot of N140. It’s almost a 1 for 1 replacement for Varget. It also takes half as long to clean a rifle vs Varget.

I picked up some N150 but haven’t tried it yet.

.223, .308, .358, 6BRA

I'm using VV N110, N135, N140, N160, 3N37, N320 without problems, but the general availability of powder is limited here in France, in particular it is almost impossible to find IMR.
But I was never disappointed by using VV powders, and I prefer it to VECTAN.

I use N110 for 454 Casull, 460 S&W, and 500 S&W.
If I can find some N170 that will supposedly be arriving in Canada next month I will try some.
I haven't been able to find any Retumbo for 2 years now.

I shot a lot of N140 back in the day when it was available in 2lb cans competetively priced with Alliant and IMR powders. Those days are long gone. By all accounts it has good reviews across the board, with the exception of some N140 from the late 90's early 2Ks that seems to have stability issues, deteriorating in a 20 year time frame. Not sure if more recent N140 has had the same problems, or just hasn't been around enough to show up yet. I had some of this powder in the last year of 2001 production lot that showed no signs of any issues, but I did use it up rapidly just in case.

I used 10.5 grains of N120 in my 300 Blackout under a Berrys 220 grain plated bullet. One hole at 33 yards. Opened up at 50 yards. Will need to try a slightly higher charge... after I get a new chrono. lol Made a post here about it. 10.5 grains of 4227 worked very similar, and did better at 50 yards.

Buzznrose said:

Looking for inputs from folks who use this powder to load warm to hot 9MM, .40, and .357 rounds with mid-heavy for caliber FMJ and XTP’s.

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I’ve loaded N320, N330 and N340 in 9, .40, .45 and .38, have not loaded .357. It meters well despite being a stick, burns pretty clean, with little to no smoke, had great groups. One thing I’ve noticed is the felt recoil impulse is very soft. I’m not sure if that’s due to it being a single base or what. I didn’t find it to be the panacea some describe, but it’s a very good powder and when they had a sale several years ago I bought a lot.
The competition crowd likes it for a lot of the same reasons, it still comes up on the surveys as one of the most used powders. I’ve found Sport Pistol is very close in characteristics to N320, and use a lot of that as well. If/when powders are more reasonable I have N310 on the buy list as I’ve not tried it but several here have. It’s expensive, but I’m worth it .

I have used it for a while now, drifted to it looking for a nice low pressure solution for a trapdoor, and (dog I can't remember what one) give me mid teens with a good FPS numbers. Loaded up some others and find it just fine.

Personally I think much of its claim to fame is it is not "from here".

My two bits if what you have been using is doing the job, and you can lay fingers on it, just stick with it unless you just want to play with something else.

used many a pound of 320 for 9mm. but nothing hot. just target level 124s. Burns so clean I have to check the target to see if I've actually shot anything.

Great stuff. I love N320 for heavy bullets in 9 and 45. Way cleaner and cooler burning than TiteGroup.
I just wish it was more available where I am at and I consider the price premium a minor thing when amortized out over 1000s of rounds.