Anyone use VihtaVuori for .223?

[YodaVader]

I have never tried any of the VV brand powders and was going to try N-133 . The guy working the counter at Sinclair last week talked me out of it even going as far to say that was a bad choice for .223? The description in Sinclair's own catalog stated that N-133 is a good choice for .223.

Anyway I usually shoot match bullets in 52 , 55 and 69 grains. Anyone tried VV powders for .223 in these bullet weights?

I did end up buying a pound of N-110 for use in the 357 and 44 mag. With it I was able to shoot my best group ever using the Hornady 180XTP and my TC Contender 357 mag.

 

[Eric F]

I do not use VV because of cost, however I have a good friend that uses VV exclusivly. If for no other reason "its what all the ipsc big names use" according to him, well what ever the stuff works he loads 308 223 40 and 38 super. I can say this the rifle stuff is really clean. Its the cleanest stuff I have seen I do not know what powder for the rifle but the pistol is n320. Just as a note and unrelated I use AA2 for my 38 super ind its a lot cleaner than VV320. All in All if vv and aa were the same price I would use it too.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I tried N-135 and N-140 with 62 grain bullets...they worked OK.
N-133 is a bit too fast burning for the 69 grain bullets.

My best results were with Alliant Reloder 15...with all bullet weights. Varget was also good with 55 grain and lighter bullets.

Most counter jockeys don't have a clue what they are talking about.

 

[Walkalong]

If you check this chart, the above advise makes sense. I expect N 133 would work fine with lighter bullets, but with the heavier ones I would go with W 748 or H 335.Those are proven in the .223 with lighter and heavier bullets. If you wanted to use VV then try N 135.

I use AA2 for my 38 super ind its a lot cleaner than VV320

I am a fan of both AA #2 and the .38 Super, but N320 edged out AA #2 for me there. I am not pushing it real hard though. (125 Gr @ 1200 FPS )That is the difference. AA #2 was looking real good. If you want to push the Super real hard it will take something slower than either of those.

Whoops, back to the .223.

 

[ar10]

I don't think the guy at the counter knows what he's talking about. VihtaVuori is one of the main suppliers of all NATO ammunition including the .223. It's also hard to get sometimes. I ordered some from powder valley, (who are very good BTW) last week and am setting up to reload a thousand .223 69gr bullets.

 

[KI.W.]

Don´t use VihtaVuori, mayby the best ones in the whole world, becuase for example Nato use it very much. We here in Finland have big troubles to have it. Please use W-W, Accurate, Alliant or Hodgdon!
(Bench rest shooters N-133 is for .223 Rem with light bullets and N-140 with
heavy ones).
Whitout joking Kauko.

 

[Afy]

I use Vithavouri almost exclusively for my rifles. .222 Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum and .260 Remington.

Here in France they are the defacto choice given that more load data is available from VV when compared to Vectan Tubal and it costs about 29 euros a lb compared to 49 for Tubal..

I use Tubal only for the 8x60S for which I havent been able to find a load in VV.

I currently use N150, N160, N165, N540, N550 and N560 powders.

KI.W I am surprised you have trouble finding VV. In France we can not get anything other than Tubal and VV. I would love to get some Hodgdon or IMR

 

[KI.W.]

Afy, VihtaVuori has monopoly here in Finland. They can make what they like. N-100 serie powders are now 60€ / kilo. In the last year it was 40€. (I think 60€ / kilo is like 27,20€ / lb.
I do´nt know 8x60 S coliber. Is it the same as 8x60 Mauser.

 

[Afy]

Yes 8x 60 mauser.

VV is about 1 euro cheaper in France. Tubal has the monopoly here.. and chare significantly more than VV.

 

[threefeathers]

I used N135 and it does very well in my 55-62 grain loads, but NO better than Ramshot TAC which is 2/3rds the price.

However N540 is the absolute best I've found for the heavier bullets, 75 grain or better. It is the best I've used for the 77 grain bthp bullets.

 

[ar10]

Afy, VihtaVuori has monopoly here in Finland. They can make what they like. N-100 serie powders are now 60€ / kilo. In the last year it was 40€. (I think 60€ / kilo is like 27,20€ / lb.
I do´nt know 8x60 S coliber. Is it the same as 8x60 Mauser.

I know the buyer of a pretty big gun dealership here in Cen. OH. When I was asking him about VihtaVuori he state they were not the easiest vendor to work with. I had also read in one of the gun magazines that Hogdon is/was the VihtaVuori distributors in the US. I like the stuff but not that much.

 

[Linear Thinker]

N140 for heavier bullets in 223. Switched from AA2520, no regrets - VV gives me lower SDs, better accuracy and is cleaner.
LT

 

[YodaVader]

Thanks for the replies - one more question , how well does N133 , N140 meter? Is it comparable to H322 or Benchmark in regards to metering? The N110 I bought meters pretty well.

 

[uk roe hunter]

i load for my cousins 223. we load 27.5 gr of N140 under a norma 50 gr spitzers. it is a compressed load, it is excellant, accurate, fast and clean. Very good on fox. please work up your own loads.

 

[Phil A]

I get my best groups in the .223 with N133. Bullet weights tried were 52gr to 55gr. A very close second is Varget. N133 meters better than Varget and gets higher velocity in shorter barrels. However Varget is less temperature sensitive, less expensive and also works well for a .308. - Phil

 

[ar10]

I get my best groups in the .223 with N133. Bullet weights tried were 52gr to 55gr. A very close second is Varget. N133 meters better than Varget and gets higher velocity in shorter barrels. However Varget is less temperature sensitive, less expensive and also works well for a .308. - Phil

I use Varget for my .308, N140 for the .223, 68gr Hornady BTHP.

I started off low with the Varget and worked up to 41.3 gr with a 168 BTHP Hornady. The 41.3gr seemed to be the most accurate on the bench, but I decided to cut it down to 40 just to be safe. I sort of "felt" the bolt slam a little harder than I liked using the higher load. The rifle is a semi-auto

 

[amlevin]

I love Vihtavouri powders for my 9mm. For my .223 I use AA 2230 due to it's price and performance. When you are going through a couple of 8# kegs a month, 2230 @ less than $100 is sure better than a powder costing $50 more.

 

[YodaVader]

After reading the replies here I have to conclude the guy working the counter at Sinclair that day may not have been too familiar with reloading the .223 using VihtaVuori powders. Hec , he said they did not even carry N110 until I showed him it was listed in their catalog.

For the .223 I will try N133 or N140. Seems like N133 would be a good powder to try in my .223 14" TC with the 52 match bullets. Also might be a good powder to try in my short barrel (20") 700LTR .223.

Thanks for all the helpful replies!