How universal VV N320 powder is?

[Katitmail]

Can I do 9mm, 45ACP, 38spl and 9x18 MAK with it?

I know people swear by it for 9mm. I know people load 45 with it. I'm sure it will work great in 9x18 MAK. What about 38spl? In my load book I see 231, Bullseye being top choice for 38spl. N320 probably somewhere along the line.

I bought 8lb and can get some more. Ideally I want to be set with 1 powder for all of those calibers and not worry about it. No need to change in powder measure, no need to keep(and try to get more) different powders.

I know it measures good, burns clean and temperature-stable. If I get some more I will be set for 2-3 years..

 

[Walkalong]

It is great for 9MM (Won't do top velocities) and great in .45 ACP as well. (Like N340 for max loads with 230 Gr bullets.)

It should do well in 9X18, but I don't have one, so can't swear by it.

It shoots well in .38 Spl, but like many powders in .38 Spl, is somewhat position sensitive.

It's great stuff. You can't go wrong buying more. I have part of a 4 pounder left, and will buy more when it runs low, which will be soon.

From N310 to 3N37 (The ones I have.), if I could only ever have one VV pistol powder, it would be hard not to choose N320.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Lapua shows data for all of those in just about every bullet weight, except 9x18. Test it out with every caliber and bullet style you have. I'm sure it'll be good if VV powders are half as good as some people claim.
http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/6

 

[Katitmail]

I forgot to mention all my loads is either target or "meeting minimum PF for IDPA".

So, I'm not going to load hot by any means. Just thinking about nice universal powder.

I have little left over BullsEye, Little Unique. I bought pound of 231. I think of just using all up and quit trying to stock different things I can find in store.

I'm also getting UniqueTeck micrometer adjustment for powder bar. So, having one powder and quickly re-adjusting drop will be ideal for quick caliber changes.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The problem with loading different cartridges with only 1 powder is pressure. While the 38 Special and 45 Auto are both low pressure cartridges the 9mm is not. Add to that the 9mm Mak which is somewhere in between and there lies your problem. Then when you add to the mix you are considering downloading those cartridges that throws another problem in the mix.

I would suggest W231/HP-38 if you want something that will work well in all four and also download well. It also meters like water. Another good choice IMO would be Ramshot Zip. It's very similar to W231/HP-38. I would also recommend AutoComp but there doesn't seem to be data for that powder and the 9mm Mak on the Hodgdon site.

There are many reloaders who want only 1 powder for different applications and I can't figure it out. One of the reasons we reload is to be able to produce the best ammo we can shoot. Why would you sidetrack that goal by limiting yourself to only one powder especially when loading such different cartridges?

 

[KansasSasquatch]

There are many reloaders who want only 1 powder for different applications and I can't figure it out. One of the reasons we reload is to be able to produce the best ammo we can shoot. Why would you sidetrack that goal by limiting yourself to only one powder especially when loading such different cartridges?

You gotta remember that for some people reloading is ALL about saving money (or shooting more for the same money) Most reloaders try to keep an 'as accurate as factory ammo' standard but besides that accuracy isn't a great concern for them. That's kinda how I started out. And that's more or less how I still am. I have a small list of pistol powders that if I had a large quantity of one of them it'd be the only pistol powder I use. Like Unique or W231, if I could get my hands on an 8lb'er I'd be set for awhile. They're plenty accurate in the calibers I load and only having one would sure simplify things.

But in all honesty, for me 5 powders is about the minimum I could see myself getting down to. Unique for pistol calibers short of magnum pressures. 2400 for magnum pistol calibers, new territory for me but I'm sure 2400 would do just fine. Varget for a wide range of rifle calibers. H4895 for reduced rifle loads. And something along the lines of H4350 or H414 for larger rifle calibers. I enjoy reloading and working up new loads, but not as much as I enjoy shooting. The benefits of saving a little time and a lot of money by consolidating powders is definitely worth it for some people.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

OK, price is a big consideration but I still fail to see how buying only one powder will save you money. If you load for a months worth of shooting and you use 2 lbs of powder you won't save any money if you use 2 lbs of Unique or 1lb of W231 and 1lb of Unique. It's still 2 lbs of powder.

 

[rcmodel]

Where do you find VitaHurry powder for sale anywhere?

See, it's been so long since I have seen any for sale, I forgot how to spell it!!

I tend to stick with the run of the mill Hodgdon/Winchester and Alliant powders that do show up occasionally, sometimes, somewhere.

The last bleeding foreskin 75 FPS velocity is totally meaningless to me anyway.

rc

 

[Kosh75287]

Universally more expensive?

I keep WANTING to try VV powders, but my limited budget keeps swaying me in the direction of other "domestic" powders (okay, some of the ones I like MAY be manufactured in Australia or Israel, but their prices seem competitive) that don't cost quite so much per pound.
They may not exactly be the cleanest-burning nor easiest metering powders known to man, but Alliant Unique or Herco are pretty well as versatile as I've ever seen. I've run everything from .32 ACP to .45 Colt +P on them both, with very nice results.

Just saying...

 

[Katitmail]

I didn't find it in store, it's from fellow shooter who ordered bunch 8 month ago and just got it.

but I still fail to see how buying only one powder will save you money

It will save time. I like to load in 1000 quantities. This is to avoid keeping bullets in qties less than 1000 and to avoid doing often caliber changes.

Now I have about 0.3lb of Unique left. And 1000 9mm bullets. What do I do? Develop new load with 231? That means I will partially load 1000 with Unique which I have load dialed in already and will work up load with 231. And they will feel different. How do I store ready ammo? Should I separate by load? But what's up with 231? I will use it partially for 9mm, how do I load 9x18 MAK bullets I have?

I really know what bullets I like now. I just keep a stash of ammo in bulk and don't want to do separate batches and so on.

To me reloading is about making good cheap ammo quickly. Also it is part of a hobby I'd rather shoot. And I don't like carrying chrono to range, marking loads, working up load, etc. It's time I better spend on practicing shooting.

If I was sure that I can find any powder I want at any time I would be buying 1lb's and loading each caliber with separate powder. But it's not possible. And ideally I don't want to store lot of different stuff. And even if I had a change to buy 8lb of each powder - it means I will have to store more powder.

N320 is pricey, that is correct. But not too much more expensive than 1lb powders I buy locally. Plus, it's economical.

 

[JLDickmon]

for me, a blanket statement like

will this work in a...

is hardly worth the effort.. as it may work for one or two bullet weights, but not for the heavier/lighter bullet or reduced/throttled up, etc..

HOWEVER..
N320 and say...
N340 or 3N37
is going to cover 90% of all the pistol loads the average reloader is ever going to need...

additionally, I must echo the words of the Great and Powerful rcModel,
"Where did you find any [at all] for sale?"

 

[1SOW]

For 130p-ish PF, n320 is premier in 9x19 and works for your listed needs.
Where 231 takes 4.5 grs, n320 takes 4.0 grs. It also meters perfectly.

As a single base powder, it burns clean with fairly light loads.

You do need to order in bulk when it shows up. A 4lb jug is $25/lb at PVI . and can load up to 7000, 129PF, 125gr 9mm Luger cartridges. = 1.4 cents/cartridge loaded,

 

[stu1ritter]

I've been loading with VV N320 for some time now. I use it in all of my non-magnum loadings in .32 S&W Long, 38 Special, 44 Special and 45 ACP. I'm halfway into my second 4lb. jug and have one left. I'm on the lookout for more. I also load with HP-38, Unique and 2400 but I don't find myself reaching for them very often anymore. NN320 meters superbly in my LnL measures.
Stu

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've used N320 as I won some in a pistol match back in the '90's. However, it is Very Pricey, last I saw for sale was $78.00 (plus tax +$88) for 2lbs.

I bought 4lbs of Universal for same price and get essentially same performace (except that SMELL) as N320.

Universal has been replaced by LongShot in my inventory maintainance program as it's superior with 9mm, .44 and .45colt CAST bullet loads.

Haven't gotten around to finding a .38spl load, but expect to find a superior one.