Vihtavuori Powder…do you use it?

[Buzznrose]

So last time I was at my favorite powder seller, they had a good selection of the Vihtavuori powders. I did some research and liking what I’m seeing with 320, 330, and 340.

I don’t really see a lot of discussion on this brand. Looking for inputs from folks who use this powder to load warm to hot 9MM, .40, and .357 rounds with mid-heavy for caliber FMJ and XTP’s.

I currently load easy shooting target rounds with Win 231 mainly. I have some CFE Pistol, but kinda looking for something else.

Thanks!

 

[JEBruns]

It is generally a good powder. I've used it for 9mm and 12ga. But I didn't think it was anything special, especially for the premium price it's going for these days.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I purchased a pound last year and tried it in 30-06, I didn't notice anything special over my current powders and wouldn't pay a premium for it. I've tried a few different "newer" powders and seem to go back to the older ones

 

[Charlie98]

There are some here that swear by it... from what I've read, it's generally very clean burning, and seems to produce very good accuracy results.

I'm with the others... I already have powders that work for me, and while I'm not a cheapskate, I'm not really willing to pay a premium for something that does what my less expensive powders already do.

 

[JFrank]

https://www.nammo.com/our-brands/

VV is top quality powder, here’s some background info.

 

[ballman6711]

I wanted to try 320 in 45acp, but one pound was going to be about $66 after shipping and hazmat. This was in 2018.

Finally found it with free hazmat, and included a pound with a few other items. Cost was about $33.

I haven't used much of it, but what I found is that it is as accurate or maybe a bit more accurate than my best load in 45acp using W231. It also burned very clean, leaving both my gun and brass cleaner than any other powder I've used.

Be aware that 320 is a short stick powder. It metered just ok in my measure, and I had to trickle up or dump excess to hit my target weights.

I can't comment on it using the calibers you listed, but I would recommend it if the price is right.

chris

 

[AJC1]

I dabble in it a little lately only using n135 so far... my research shows it has all the temperature stability and coper fowling removers but not the marketing focused on those things... I bought the first pound to play with and the second when there were no medium burn rate rifle powders available other than 30-31 for 3 dollars less. All the books seem to list n140 but 223 and 308 are shooting great on 135. As far as you selection available I'd be leaning toward that n340 for higher velocity. Your 357 will get best velocity in their fast rifle like n105 and 110.

 

[ParallelCode]

I have some N165, but have yet to use it. I will say this though, the packaging is great. The containers have a real tamper seal and are nice and compact.

 

[Misplacedtexan]

If it weren't so damn expensive, I would love to try some.

 

[mcb]

I have used pounds and pounds of N320 in 40 S&W for USPSA competition. Never found a cleaner burning powder for that application.

 

[markr6754]

VV N320 is my absolute favorite powder for 380 Auto, 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto. I picked some up cheap in 2018, and then added 3N37, N330, N110, N120, and N130. I haven't seen any in a year so most likely it's far out of my price comfort zone...but I love the clean burning, accurate shooting, and lower charge weights. I just wish I could get the larger containers to help mitigate the higher cost. Still...I'd likely buy it if I found it, and self-justify the cost. Everything costs an arm and a leg these days.

 

[jmorris]

I use a lot of N310&N320 for pistol rounds, very clean powder.

 

[wbm]

Vihtavuori Powder..do you use it?

Yes.

 

[PO2Hammer]

N340 is my favorite, awesome in 357 and 9mm.

 

[fxvr5]

Vit powders are some of the best on the planet.

 

[N555]

Buy it by the keg when you can if you're paying Shipping.

 

[Buzznrose]

Buy it by the keg when you can if you're paying Shipping.

I’d buy it locally stocked.

 

[Buzznrose]

So y’all using the N320, one person said it didn’t meter very good. I’d be using it with a Dillon powder measure. Any issues?

 

[bltmonty]

3N37 is the only VN powder I use, but for 9mm loads, it's terrific. Like many others, I found what works for each load; for me, there's not really a "higher quality" powder manufacturer.

 

[ballman6711]

Be aware that 320 is a short stick powder. It metered just ok in my measure, and I had to trickle up or dump excess to hit my target weights.

I have only used it in a Hornady measure. I would say it was mostly +/- .1gr but sometimes would throw .2gr off. W231, H110, and other ball powders mostly measure right on the money, with the odd throw .1gr off.

FWIW, I have weighed every charge since starting reloading, both pistol and rifle, so I do see when a charge is off.

chris

 

[Slamfire]

Vihtavuori makes good gun powders. Hardly anyone I know uses them in Bullseye Competition for the simple reasons, they have been hard to acquire, and are more expensive than the alternatives.

Do understand, there have been a number of postings of Vihtavuori powders going bad after 20 years.








Finland is a cold country, so powders last longer in the cold. And then those powders get in a closet in West Texas, and they deteriorate fast.

 

[.38 Special]

Like others, I have had very good results with it, and consider it top quality - maybe even the best powders available, overall. I'd certainly use more of it if the cost was closer to that of the other brands, but as it stands the benefits are so slight that I just don't see the value.

 

[IALoder]

I very much like VV N135, N140, and N150. Clean, accurate, and consistent for me. I have a lb of N110 I'm trying in the Ruger 44 Mag Carbine, and am VERY interested in N320 for 9mm plinking ammo. If I see a lb locally I'll definitely buy one to try. N340 seems to fit what you're trying to do with hot 9mm and .357 mag pretty well!

 

[Walkalong]

So y’all using the N320, one person said it didn’t meter very good. I’d be using it with a Dillon powder measure. Any issues?

It meters well, N-310 meters a little better, as does 3N37, excellent stuff.

 

[jmorris]

So y’all using the N320, one person said it didn’t meter very good. I’d be using it with a Dillon powder measure. Any issues?

I have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds using Dillon powder measures and N310/N320. Won lots of matches with them along the way too.