Vihtavuori 3N37 for .38 Super major

[flexible]

hi everyone, flexible here. Been running 9.2 gr of Blue Dot, 147gr laser cast bullets, Remington 7 1/2 small BR primers, Starline Supercomp brass in a gun designed for hot .38Super (fully supported chanber, etc.)
Almost out of Blue Dot.
Has anyone used 3N37?
thanks

 

[AJC1]

hi everyone, flexible here. Been running 9.2 gr of Blue Dot, 147gr laser cast bullets, Remington 7 1/2 small BR primers, Starline Supercomp brass in a gun designed for hot .38Super (fully supported chanber, etc.)
Almost out of Blue Dot.
Has anyone used 3N37?
thanks

Think if your switching from blue dot n105 might be more your game. Never messed with the weird numbered vv powders. Oddly enough I'm in the 100 series rifle and pistol.

 

[Walkalong]

3N37 works well to do that with 124/5 Gr bullets, but N-105 can do it with less pressure.

@fxvr5 turned me onto N-105, had been using 3N37 and was very happy with it.

N-105 & RMR 124 Gr Matchwinners

 

[GarrettJ]

USPSA Open Division, I presume? I don’t think anywhere else scores 9mm/.38 Super as Major.

So why are you shooting 147 gr. bullets? For Open, you want to generate as much high-pressure gas as possible to work the comp. This usually means as much of a slow powder as you can fit into the case. A lighter bullet leaves more volume inside the case and needs more of the same powder to make the same PF as a heavier bullet. It might seem snappier, but will shoot flatter.

Try working up a 115 or 124 gr. load and shoot back to back against your 147 gr. load. There should be a noticeable difference.

When I shot .38 Super in Open I used a 115 gr. JHP with N350. This was about the time that 3N38 was introduced. Both are a bit slower-burning than 3N37. As suggested, N105 is another very good choice. N110 would be good as well, but I don’t know if you can stuff enough of that powder into the case.

I ended up switching to a 125 gr. JHP and Longshot one of the times when Viht powders were difficult to get in the states. Longshot worked well enough, but was nowhere near as clean as the Viht powders.

 

[flexible]

very interesting info, thanks.
now if i can find some N105 I'll be ok. Can always go to Gunbroker.com and pay a LOT but get it.
What kind of 124 gr bullets are you using? Hard cast? jacketed? Any recommended load data?
thanks
flexible

 

[GarrettJ]

This one goes way back to the early 2000s. We had a list of loads compiled by a guy named Jeff Maass. It looks like there are some N105 loads, even from back then.

The other go-to source is the Reloading forum at BrianEnos.com.

 

[Howland937]

What kind of 124 gr bullets are you using? Hard cast? jacketed? Any recommended load data

@Walkalong pretty much just showed you a really good load. Mine looks about the same except I have a bunch of 124gr Nosler Sporting Handgun bullets to use up. Been playing with 147gr XTP'S for shooting bowling pins. They're only running in the low 1200 range with a smidge over 8gr of N105.

 

[fxvr5]

Here's a bunch of information on the 38 Super and powders and accuracy and compensators and stuff.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/power-factor-recoil-bullet-weight-compensators/99206
https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/compensators-pressure-gas/99170
https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/super-accurate-38-super-loads/326242
https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/super-powders-for-the-38-super/99160

 

[flexible]

great info, thanks everyone!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

hi everyone, flexible here. Been running 9.2 gr of Blue Dot, 147gr laser cast bullets, Remington 7 1/2 small BR primers, Starline Supercomp brass in a gun designed for hot .38Super (fully supported chanber, etc.)
Almost out of Blue Dot.
Has anyone used 3N37?
thanks

I don’t shoot the kind of loads as you’re asking about but I do load a lot of Blue Dot in .357Mag, .44Spl, .44Mag and a few other rounds. When Blue Dot was hard to find I tried Accurate No.7 and found it to be pretty close in performance with less attitude. If you can’t find the other powders mentioned you might try No.7 or Winchester Autocomp. I’m new to Autocomp but so far it’s been pretty good to work with.

 

[Otto]

Why are you shooting cast lead at major?
Suggest switching to RMR 147 FMJ for better performance, no-leading and a cheaper price.
(I’m sorta surprised Oregon Trail is even still around.).
Beyond that, i prefer 3N38 and I’d buy 38 Super +P brass over Starline’s pricey Super Comp.

 

[flexible]

thanks everyone, ordered some RMR 124 gr and Hornady 124 gr. since I'm shopping for a 9mm i should have extra bullets to use in 9mm and .38 Super.
going to order N105 from gunbroker so i can get started
flexible