Anyone using Vihtavouri N340?

[Damon Larsen]

I just bought some N320(I’ll get to the N340) and shot some 230’s out of my Springfield 45. Absolutely loved it, especially how accurate and CLEAN it is.

But I’m also setup to load 9mm, 40S&W, and 10mm as well. So I bought some N340. Haven’t tried it yet but was wondering anyone’s experience with it.

One of my big questions is, does it burn clean!!?? No corn meal looking burnt flakes and black soot after 200 rounds like my experience with Hodgdon’s powders? Lol! Great accuracy but very dirty.

I have 4 pounds of each Viht powder mentioned. My idea is-

9mm-both N320 and N340
40-Guessing 320 would work but 340 best?
45-I’ll just stick to 320 because of it being a low pressure round?
10mm-Stick to just 340?


I’ve only tried N320 in 45 so far, but based on burn rates that is my plan. Please feel free to tell me any experience you’ve had and any suggestions. Thanks

 

[sequins]

I like N105 for 10mm, and reserve N340 For magnum revolvers myself.

 

[reddog81]

I’ve never noticed any difference between the 2 in soot or unburnt flakes. I’ve shot both in all calibers mentioned except 40 S&W. For light loads in 45 I’d stick to N320 but N340 works for standard loads.

The VV powders are expensive but they meter well and are very clean. If you haven’t downloaded they’re app, you should check it out.

 

[Rembrandt]

Haven't used the N340......only use N330 for all my 9mm, and N320 for 45acp and 40 cal. Brownells always has it in stock.

 

[Toprudder]

Generally speaking, the VV powders are known to be clean burning.

Most powders can be dirty when used at the bottom end of the pressure range. I’ve seen powders burn dirty in 45acp but burn clean in 9mm or 40. The difference is the max pressure, 45acp is 21k, and the others are around 35k psi. For reduced recoil loads in 45acp, I much prefer a faster burning powder at the top end of the charge range, instead of downloading a slower powder.

Also, running a faster powder at the top of the charge range will be closer to the peak pressure limit, and therefore do a better job expanding the brass to form a gas seal, which helps to limit the amount of combustion byproducts from blowing back into the action.

 

[Damon Larsen]

I’ve never noticed any difference between the 2 in soot or unburnt flakes. I’ve shot both in all calibers mentioned except 40 S&W. For light loads in 45 I’d stick to N320 but N340 works for standard loads.

The VV powders are expensive but they meter well and are very clean. If you haven’t downloaded they’re app, you should check it out.

I did get the app, and it’s very high quality. And thank you, glad to hear 340 is just as clean

 

[Damon Larsen]

I’ve never noticed any difference between the 2 in soot or unburnt flakes. I’ve shot both in all calibers mentioned except 40 S&W. For light loads in 45 I’d stick to N320 but N340 works for standard loads.

The VV powders are expensive but they meter well and are very clean. If you haven’t downloaded they’re app, you should check it out.

Glad to hear it! Yeah, for how clean and accurate I’ve seen it already with 320, it’s absolutely worth the higher cost. But even with 320, I think it only ends up being like $10 more per thousand rounds. I can live with that. Lol!

 

[Damon Larsen]

Generally speaking, the VV powders are known to be clean burning.

Most powders can be dirty when used at the bottom end of the pressure range. I’ve seen powders burn dirty in 45acp but burn clean in 9mm or 40. The difference is the max pressure, 45acp is 21k, and the others are around 35k psi. For reduced recoil loads in 45acp, I much prefer a faster burning powder at the top end of the charge range, instead of downloading a slower powder.

Also, running a faster powder at the top of the charge range will be closer to the peak pressure limit, and therefore do a better job expanding the brass to form a gas seal, which helps to limit the amount of combustion byproducts from blowing back into the action.

That makes complete sense on what I was experiencing with CFE-Pistol. I know it burns slower, but I tried to increase pressure to almost max powder while decreasing my OAL. Helped a little, but it was still dirty, especially in 45ACP.

 

[Damon Larsen]

Haven't used the N340......only use N330 for all my 9mm, and N320 for 45acp and 40 cal. Brownells always has it in stock.

Nice!!! I almost went with N330, especially for the amount of 9mm I shoot. Think I’ll have to try that sometime soon.
View attachment 929876

 

[bluetopper]

N340 is superb in any caliber you can find data for it. Burns very clean and very accurate. I've used it 38,357, 9mm, 45acp, 44 Mag and probably others I can't recall right now.

 

[Walkalong]

Like it a lot in 9MM, but my plinker load in 9MM uses N-320, my little lasers with 90/95 Gr bullets in 9MM uses 3N37, and I have discovered (Thanks @fxvr5 ) that N-105 is awesome for fast .38 Super. N-110 is great in .44 Mag.

 

[rfwobbly]

I use N310, N320, N330, N340 and N350, and love them all.
• They seem to all be the same chemical formulation, simply made into different particle sizes to alter the 'burn rate'. That may not be absolutely true, but it seems that way.

• These are single-base propellants. Try shooting 20 rounds of 9mm with N340 and see how cool the barrel remains. The absence of nitroglycerin cuts the heat considerably, and may ultimately reduce chamber throat erosion.

• You'll come to really appreciate the naming system when you get to the place in your ammo testing where you need the next faster or next slower powder.
.

 

[lordpaxman]

Glad to hear it! Yeah, for how clean and accurate I’ve seen it already with 320, it’s absolutely worth the higher cost. But even with 320, I think it only ends up being like $10 more per thousand rounds. I can live with that. Lol!

I’m with you on the cost. That initial “holy crap... one pound is how much?” Is a shock but in the OBeQuite shortage VV was all I could get. And they only have the 1 and 4 pounders.
I have loads for 9, 40, 45, 38 and 357. Can’t help you on the 10mm. VV powders meter well in my LNL, despite being stick, burn clean and most importantly have great groups. N330 was really scarce, and I jumped on some when it came back in stock, but honestly while VV says it was made for 9 I didn’t see a huge difference. I’ve yet to add N310 to an order, but that will happen.
I would entreat you to try other Hodgdon powders like Clays in 45, IMO it burns cleaner than N320. Good luck!

 

[rfwobbly]

I would entreat you to try other Hodgdon powders like Clays in 45, IMO it burns cleaner than N320.

I agree, there are several "poor man's VihtaVuori" powders. Clays in 45ACP. WSF, Sport Pistol and BE86 in 9mm. But besides running very cleanly, the VV powders also seem to exhibit more of a push in their recoil. The recoil simply doesn't feel as abrupt.

 

[bluetopper]

You can make some awesome target loads in 44 Mag with N340 especially with lighter bullets. Great accuracy on the bench and data for it gets pretty stout too.

 

[Toprudder]

I agree, there are several "poor man's VihtaVuori" powders. Clays in 45ACP. WSF, Sport Pistol and BE86 in 9mm. But besides running very cleanly, the VV powders also seem to exhibit more of a push in their recoil. The recoil simply doesn't feel as abrupt.

Clays in 45acp is my favorite for low recoil loads, <750fps. BE86 is one of my favorites in several calibers, including 9mm, but also for mid-range loads in 357 and 44 mags.