N340 9mm chrono results

[jcwallace84]

Hi guys, I have been loading some 9mm using VV N340 and using Rainier 124gr plated RN bullets. Out of my HK P30L I get (68deg day, 10 shots)


5.0gr N340, Rainier 124gr plated RN, 1.155 OAL
Hi 1115
Lo 1068
Avg 1088
ES 47
SD 14

Lapua's website for loading data, using the same exact bullet
http://www.lapua.com/en/products/reloading/vihtavuori-reloading-data/relodata/6/34

Rainier 124gr RN
N340
Starting 4.7 1077fps
MAX 5.1 1152fps

What do you guys think? Should I switch to a different powder? I'm not sure if the velocity I'm getting per the pressure is ideal. I also may switch to an FMJ bullet, Precision delta's perhaps? I mean my rounds aren't bad, they cycle that heavy slide fine, and are accurate enough.

 

[7mmb]

Seems like a decent load to me. I like N350 for 9mm. Never worked up a bad load with that powder in 9mm. N340 will work in 9mm but N350 will give higher velocity. 3N37 is a another VV powder that works really well in 9mm and meters better than N350 or N340, although the N300 series powders meter well enough that I wouldn't choose 3N37 just because of that.

 

[Walkalong]

N340 is excellent in 9MM with 124/125 Gr bullets, but not for light loads. N320 or N330 are better for that.

What was your charge weight?

 

[jcwallace84]

N340 is excellent in 9MM with 124/125 Gr bullets, but not for light loads. N320 or N330 are better for that.

What was your charge weight?

Shoot, can't believe I forgot to add that, I was at 5.0gr and erred towards 4.9gr on my hornady LNL. The stuff meters amazingly well from that hornady powder thrower. I was at 1.155in OAL too.

I tried N320 w/ the 124gr bullet and it shot so very well, but my P30L slide is too darn heavy and they barely ejected, and stovepiped a couple times, and that was at near max loads. So I went to N340.

 

[1SOW]

n320 is near max load @ 1100 fps with 124 gr. It shoots great, but you likely need a lighter recoil spring for slide function.
I use it with 4 different 124/125gr bulletsat 1040-1050 fps and it's soft shooting and accurate with 4.0 grs. Zeros, Berry's, MGs, PDs

With 124gr SD bullets, I get 1190-1205 fps out of a 3.6" Sig bbl with n340 "MAXed" out--memory says 5.7(?) grs @1.142"-ish. No signs of overpressure.
Shoots great.

 

[Beanie-Bean]

Thanks for posting your results! I just ran a new load over the Chrony yesterday for 9x19, and here are my results:

Weather: not too bad, maybe 70 deg F, light wind

Pistol: H&K P30L v3

Rounds: 10 per string, 2 strings

String #18: Hornady 124 gr. FMJ / VV 3N37 5.7 gr.
Lo: 1089
Hi: 1103
Avg: 1094
ES: 14
SD: 4

String #20: Rainier 124 gr. RN / VV 3N37 5.7 gr.
Lo: 1086
Hi: 1105
Avg: 1095
ES: 19.6
SD: 7

It's good to be able to run different powders for the same projectiles, particularly when powder availability generally sucks at this time.

I also ran some Montana Gold 115 gr. over Unique and Power Pistol. These were some pretty stout loads, because my last outing didn't really impress me with the loads I did with this same projectile over VV N320. I was shooting a Glock 34, and the empties barely made it out of the ejection port, and a lot were going straight up, and some even went sideways to the left! The range between starting and max loads for that powder with the MG 115 gr. bullet was pretty slim, and I didn't want to push it any further. I've had great success with both Power Pistol and Unique for .355/.356" projectiles from my guns, and yesterday's test just proved it again.

I did run some tests of the same 124 gr. projectiles and 3N37 over my P30 V1, too...I'll post that data here shortly. Gotta grab it from the Chrony first.

 

[Potatohead]

I like your weather report there Beanie, "Not to bad"...

 

[Walkalong]

I did with this same projectile over VV N320. I was shooting a Glock 34, and the empties barely made it out of the ejection port,

That is one of the good things about my 1050ish FPS 124 Gr 9MM N320 load, the empties just pile up about a foot or two to my right. I just lean over and pick them up when I'm done.

 

[Beanie-Bean]

Mr. Potatohead, it was really not too bad out there that day. It started out around 45 deg, and warmed up in a hurry.

Walkalong, I have had some issues going on the minimum side of the loading bands with some of my Glock Gen4 pistols, so I've found that the mid- to max range loads cycle the pistols better, and also work fine with the other brands of pistols I shoot.

Here is the load/chrony info for the P30. Surprisingly, the velocities were not that different than the P30L with the longer barrel:

Mfg Weight Type Powder Grains
Hornady 124 FMJ 3N37 5.7

Hi Lo Avg ES SD
1085 1078 1082 6.86 2

**
Mfg Weight Type Powder Grains
Rainier 124 RN 3N37 5.7

Hi Lo Avg ES SD
1089 1078 1085 10.77 3

 

[Walkalong]

My gun had trouble with the light loads at first due to inconsistent ejection, but I replaced the extractor and fit an EGW over sized FPS and now it ejects extremely consistently. Some guns need more oomph than others to run right.

 

[jcwallace84]

Thanks for posting your results! I just ran a new load over the Chrony yesterday for 9x19, and here are my results:

Weather: not too bad, maybe 70 deg F, light wind

Pistol: H&K P30L v3

Rounds: 10 per string, 2 strings

String #18: Hornady 124 gr. FMJ / VV 3N37 5.7 gr.
Lo: 1089
Hi: 1103
Avg: 1094
ES: 14
SD: 4

String #20: Rainier 124 gr. RN / VV 3N37 5.7 gr.
Lo: 1086
Hi: 1105
Avg: 1095
ES: 19.6
SD: 7

It's good to be able to run different powders for the same projectiles, particularly when powder availability generally sucks at this time.

I also ran some Montana Gold 115 gr. over Unique and Power Pistol. These were some pretty stout loads, because my last outing didn't really impress me with the loads I did with this same projectile over VV N320. I was shooting a Glock 34, and the empties barely made it out of the ejection port, and a lot were going straight up, and some even went sideways to the left! The range between starting and max loads for that powder with the MG 115 gr. bullet was pretty slim, and I didn't want to push it any further. I've had great success with both Power Pistol and Unique for .355/.356" projectiles from my guns, and yesterday's test just proved it again.

I did run some tests of the same 124 gr. projectiles and 3N37 over my P30 V1, too...I'll post that data here shortly. Gotta grab it from the Chrony first.

Thanks for the report! So I was thinking maybe I could try the 3N37 some day. In looking at the loads on the vihtavuori website, their Max load for the Rainier 124gr RN (plated) of 6.0gr is less than their suggested starting load for the Hornady 124gr FMJ at 6.1gr. Essentially just the lead data for the plated bullets. So if I switch to FMJ's then maybe I could eke out a bit more velocity/recoil energy using N320 and try it again in my P30L, otherwise I'm not sure what I'd use it for. Give it to my friend who loads .45, or keep it for when I get another .45 (I'm in between .45's right now haha)

 

[JLDickmon]

if I remember correctly, and I may in fact be talking out of my butt, I vaguely recall someone at Kaltron-Pettibone (the importer) telling me 3N37 was developed for the 9x19..

I dunno.. that was like.. 30 years ago..

 

[Walkalong]

3N37 is my powder of choice for hot .38 Super.

 

[1SOW]

jcwallace84 re you n320 light loads: A lighter recoil spring changes in a few seconds and is waaaay cheaper than n 340.

My full size CZ 75 Shadow with an 11# spring (14# is stock) throws them 7'-8'.
$7/spring

 

[MagicD]

Have had good results with N 340 in 9mm
5.4 gr with Ranier 115 rd pt
5.2 gr Xtreme 124 gr HP
This is an amazingly low flash powder!

 

[Potatohead]

Mr. Potatohead, it was really not too bad out there that day

No offense intended if I sounded snide.
Apparently, I have a way of pissing people off on here.

 

[jcwallace84]

if I remember correctly, and I may in fact be talking out of my butt, I vaguely recall someone at Kaltron-Pettibone (the importer) telling me 3N37 was developed for the 9x19..

I dunno.. that was like.. 30 years ago..

That sounds familiar to me a little, but not sure. One thing I heard was that N330 was also specifically made for 9mm rounds, and I think even more specifically for the MP5-SD. As in, it is a good powder for suppressed rounds. I would try it but can't find it around here. My local guy gets N320 and N340 here pretty regularly, and I think maybe 3N37.

 

[jcwallace84]

jcwallace84 re you n320 light loads: A lighter recoil spring changes in a few seconds and is waaaay cheaper than n 340.

My full size CZ 75 Shadow with an 11# spring (14# is stock) throws them 7'-8'.
$7/spring

Believe me, the first thing I googled when I got home from shooting my N320 loads was "HK P30 P30L light reduced recoil spring" etc. However, last I checked no one makes one for the P30 or P30L. I should have gotten the regular P30 and maybe have less issues with weaker rounds.

 

[Beanie-Bean]

Originally posted by Potatohead
No offense intended if I sounded snide.
Apparently, I have a way of pissing people off on here.

??? I'm not pissed I did laugh when I read it, though. I was just trying to be a little humorous about the weather conditions that day. It's all good, Potatohead--no offense taken at all.

 

[Potatohead]

Great

 

[Beanie-Bean]

N340 and N350, too!

I did an order with Powder Valley a while back, and already had some N320 on hand, so I decided to order some other pistol powders while they had some in stock. You just never know when there will be a panic and people will start scooping up everything in sight, you know?

Anyway, this order had N340, N350, and 3N37 powders. I'm just starting to make my way through those powders, starting with the 3N37. Thank you guys, for posting some info on your loads with N340--it gives me a good reference and starting point for my own loads. I've been having a lot of fun testing out new loads, even if it is time-consuming. At least I'll have some good notes and results on what I can load when I'm trying to get ready for a match, or if I'm wanting to break in a new handgun.

I'll post my N340 results here after I can get out to the range with them.

 

[Potatohead]

Awesome. I too, am digging this info. I'm always looking to add to my powder supply!