45acp reloads using Vit. 310 Powder???

[beekay]

I am a new member with THR and I think it's got some great topics and advice. I shoot 45acp, 40SW, 357Sig, 9mm, etc. I have seen mentioned in a couple of places (other than THR) about using Vit. 310 powder with 185 grain jacketed bullets with shooters stating that they have gotten superb results. I cannot find any reload info for Vit. 310 powder for any of my calibers. Does anyone have any info or suggestions for starting loads for 45acp and/or 40SW or others? I would greatly appreciate any/all advice. Thanks very much!

Beekay

 

[Mikke]

Get VV's reloading manual: http://www.lapua.com/Reloading guide for centerfire cartridges 1-2004 versio 24.3.pdf

N310 is their fastest powder, and IMO not that suitable for most of your calibers. It might work for light target loads, but for most use it's too fast.

N340 is much more allround and will work for all of your calibers.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'm told that the USMC team used the Hornady 185g match bullet and 4.3gr of VV-n310 to win the '03 Camp Perry matches. Nosler's are very accurate too, but the Hornady's are a good bit cheaper when bought in bulk.

Can't vouch for the load data info, though.

 

[Nathan Detroit]

I had not heard that the Marines had switched form the 185 Nosler JHP to the Hornady. The original load they used was based around the Nosler bullet.

If you are interested in loading data for the combo you mentioned, go over to the bullseye list:

http://www.escribe.com/sports/bullseye/index.html

You will be able to perform a search even if you are not part of the group. Look for "Marine load" or maybe "VV N-310". You will find a lot of valuable precision loading data in general as the guys that frequent the bullseye list attend Perry for the National Matches each year. They are serious competitors.

The only loading guide from Vihtavuori that listed the data for N-310 in the .45 ACP was the very first pamphlet. By the time the first manual came out they had long abandoned listing data for that powder in the .45. In fact, you will find VERY limited data for N-310 in the cartridges you mention. In the latest manual (#3), there is only one load for 9mm Luger, and two for .357 Mag. There are no data for anything larger than .357.

 

[P95Carry]

I'll just reinforce - N-310 is effectively Bullseye speed. OK for target .38's etc but not for .45acp. Indeed N-340 is a good powder - suits 9mm very well and also .45acp. Hopefully you will by now have checked out for some load data.

Load safe.

 

[Murphster]

If you're interested in shooting .45 ACP 200 grain swc, here's a rerun of some info I put out a while back:

In Patrick Sweeney's newest book on the .45, he tested over 30 pistols using over 35,000 rounds of ammo. The most accurate load, in the largest number of pistols was:

Oregon Trail 200 grain L-SWC
OAL 1.250"
taper crimped .468"
mixed brass
Vihtavuori N-310, 4.6 grains
Winchester large pistol primers.

"It delivered the only sub half-inch group in testing, and more sub one-inch groups than the others."

I use the same load substituting Leadhead's 200 grain SWC and CCI large pistol primers. My Dan Wesson and Springfield Armory both love(d) the load. It is my load of choice for SWC. This load doesn't appear in books, but is a bit of inside information apparently provided to Oregon Trail by competitors who use their bullets. Oregon Trail, in turn, provided the info to Sweeney for him to try in his testing.

 

[beekay]

Murphster and Nathan D ---

Thanks for the good info. I also want to thank everyone else who responded. I have some Nosler 185's and just two weeks ago bought some Oregon Trail bullets for 3 other calibers as well as for the 45. I haven't had a chance to try any of them yet, but have heard some pretty good comments about them. The top of the box even claims "accuracy guaranteed" and also offers a money back guarantee. Thanks for the link to the other forum.
I appreciate everyone's ideas. Thanks guys....

Beekay

 

[Nortonics]

I just got done loading my first 100 rounds of Rainier 185 gr. jacketed flat points using Vit. N340. Got my reloading data directly from the Laupa/Vihtavuori site here (in Adobe PDF format):

Vihtavuori Reloading Guide 1/2004

I like N340 as used with 230 gr. jacketed bullets - Hornady's reloading guide suggests this (among a couple other powders) for best accuracy in this weight bullet. They go on to say that N320 is a better choice for the lighter 185 gr. type bullets.

I REALLY like the Vit. powders - VERY clean burning, VERY accurate, and meters nicely in the reloading gear.

Here's a testament of N340 behind regular ol' Rainier 230 grainer's using old brass:

 

[Master Blaster]

I have been testing N-310 in .45 acp for a the last year 1500 rounds fired. I started with 4.0 gr and a 200 gr LSWC . This was the load I used for bullseye and titegroup, my other .45acp target powders. 4.0 of N310 would not cycle any of my 5 .45 guns reliably, so I went up to 4.2,4.3,4.5. I get the best accuracy and the "cleanest burn" from 4.5 gr n310. Other bullseye shooters ( master and High master class) at my club tried it and moved on.

Its no more accurate for us than bullseye or titegroup at 4.0-4.2 gr with the 200 lswc. It is not any cleaner whatever that really means either (no such thing as clean with a LSWC, they all smoke and leave residue due to the lube, with jacketed bullets all of the powders are clean)

Folks did find that 3.8-4.2 gr of SOLO 1000 was the best and thats what they are all using,( some with a 200 lswc some with a home made 155 gr LSWC and a 12lb spring) the guys who win matches and go to Camp Perry every year anyway.

Me I'm no bullseye shooter I just plink and shoot in the upper 70's to mid 80's and low 90's (on a real good day) at 25 yards.. N-310 is expensive and no cleaner than any of the others, for me, and accuracy wise its no better for me than titegroup or Solo 1000, or bullseye.

At $25 a pound and with published data real scarce, I'm not going to be buying anymore N-310.

BTW some of the Bullseye guys say SOLO is the softest shooting, and n-310 is the harshest in terms of recoil pulse, Me I can't tell the difference. YMMV

 

[P95Carry]

MB - intrigued to see you mention the Solo 1000. I have been using this for 12G reloads for a long time - and it seems a reasonable powder, good price too.

For years I used a Brit shotgun powder (N80) for my target 38 loads .. but it sounds a bit like this Solo 1000 could be equally useful. I have an 8lb jug spare too!

Can you point me to any more info on loads for that powder - all I have had previously was IIRC geared toward reloading shot shells.

 

[Master Blaster]

www.acuratearms.com

Accurate arms website has reloading data for .45 acp with solo 1000.

The Gurus at my club start with 4.0 grains and a 200 lswc and work up to 4.8 testing to see which functions and shoots most accurately in their gun with their preferred spring weight, and red dot configuration. (slide vs frame mounted)

 

[P95Carry]

Thanks MB

 

[Canuck-IL]

MB - I'm surprised that 4gr of 310 wouldn't cycle any of your guns...what spring weight and optic mount (if any) were you using?

At 50 - 75 ft (winter indoor Bullseye), I've used 3.8 to 4.2 of both Bullseye and V-310 with 200gr SWC and Rainier 200 plated for 'no lead' ranges. These are real soft shooting target loads but reliably cycle all 3 guns with 13# springs, no optics.

I've found 310 to be much cleaner than BE - can really notice the difference with the plated bullets when you look down at the bench after a 30 round match.

One other choice I've begun to experiment with is Vectan Ba-10 - a French powder sold under the name of NobleSport here. A little bulkier than BE and intermediate in residue between BE and 310. I've used as little as 3.4gr for lead SWC at 50 ft, still w a 13# spring... seems promising and Graf's has it for $7.99 a pound. Takes some of the sting out of the hazmat if you order enough. Cheapest anything at the local shows goes for is about $15.
/Bryan

 

[MoNsTeR]

N-310 is effectively Bullseye speed. OK for target .38's etc but not for .45acp.

Doesn't make much sense, considering how many folks load Bullseye in .45

At any rate, 4.5gr N310 + 200gr SWC = greatest .45 load of all time

I load it in 9mm and now .40 as well, but those are scary, bleeding-edge, get-yelled-at-for-posting-'em loads.

 

[Master Blaster]

I'm stubborn, I like to use iron sights, and a 16.5 lb standard spring, the way JMB intended. probably why I dont do that well at matches. Try solo 1000 Accurate Arms has data for it, and the BE guys who shoot 2700 matches love it. When I measure clean burning I never try to see how much unburned powder is on the bench, I measure it by how much smoke it puts in the air for me to breathe, and how hard the crud is to clean off the slide.

 

[beekay]

Vit N310 powder

Well, I finally loaded up some Nosler 185's and started with 3.9 gr of N310. Accuracy was terrible and with 3.9 grains, functioning was also terrible. Every load either failed to eject or stovepiped. I will give 4.2 grs. of N310 a try and if that does not work will max out at 4.4 or 4.5 grs. So far, my other powders have given much better results (Clays, 231, BE, AA5, Pow Pist., etc). I was hoping that N310 would work out the best, but so far I am disappointed. The fact that is is probably the most expensive powder of them all is also very disappointing. :banghead: MasterB, I agree with you. I won't be buying any more N310 either. But I guess that's what reloading is all about ---trial and error or success. Thanks everybody for the info.
Beekay