Vitahvouri N140 or N150 For .308?

[peeplwtchr]

Hi All-

I'm looking to test Vitavhouri powder in my .308, as it's one of the least temp. sensitive powders, and I hear other good things about it as well.

I've been using IMR 8208 AND Varget with great results, however due to the Lake City announcement and the election, Price gouging has already started, and gonna get worse (A well known retailer not CTD is selling Varget for $100 lb. now). 8208 is discontinued based on what an FFL told me, and searching online for 3 months. Funny thing is Vitavhouri used to be high end pricewise, which kept me away initially; now it's mid range. Scheels by me has it for $36 lb.

I'm shooting 168gr. SMKs, Berger and Hornady, 26 inch barrel Savage, 1:10 twist, Lapua brass. Do any of you have experience with either of these powders in this caliber? Looking forward to feedback.

P.S.- Stock up on everything now if you are able, prices are gonna get ugly for awhile. AGAIN.

Thanks!

 

[JmacD]

Yes. N150 is a favorite of mine. I’ve currently been running 42.5 gr of n150 behind a 178gr eldx. Also different charge weight behind a 168 gr eld-m. I’m in a 26” 1:10’twist heavy barrel howa.
My brothers Ruger American predator seems to very much like n140. 42 gr (I’m going off memory; might be 41 gr) with a 165 interlock.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, let's all go nuts and drive prices up again.

This is the second prices are going to go crazy thread lately, sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Even if it is true.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Yep, let's all go nuts and drive prices up again.

This is the second prices are going to go crazy thread lately, sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Even if it is true.

We're not driving prices up. Distributors/Retailers have from what I can/have seen, which I learned here.

I'm just looking for opinions on these powders, and warning guys like me in 2021 who hadn't experienced the panic cycles yet.

 

[Walkalong]

Panic drives demand which drives prices.... Vote pro gun folks, help yourselves out.

And if, as you posted, the price gouging has started, buy different products. None of the powder choices are irreplaceable.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Panic drives demand which drives prices.... Vote pro gun folks, help yourselves out.

And if, as you posted, the price gouging has started, buy different products. None of the powder choices are irreplaceable.

What I'm trying to do now, which I learned here. Which BTW your recommendations helped in the past.
Okay, back on topic, looking for feedback please everyone, which do I choose?

 

[TEXASJD]

N140 with 150g has worked well for me

 

[JmacD]

What I'm trying to do now, which I learned here. Which BTW your recommendations helped in the past.
Okay, back on topic, looking for feedback please everyone, which do I choose?

I’m gonna say the slower N150 will probably be better… in my case…

 

[Nature Boy]

N140 is nearly a one for one substitute for Varget in my 308 loads, with the added benefit of it burning a helluva lot cleaner. It takes me 1/2 the time to clean a rifle using N140 vs Varget.

I have 16lbs of N150 but haven’t tried it yet. It’s a bit slower than N140 and should be good for a variety of 308 loads as well.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I’m gonna say the slower N150 will probably be better… in my case…

Thanks, that is the first thing I thought based on TexasJD's post agout the N140 being great with 150gr..

 

[peeplwtchr]

I’m gonna say the slower N150 will probably be better… in my case…

Nice shooting!

 

[Walkalong]

N-140 is great stuff, but is a tad faster than RL-15 for me in Dasher and bumps up against max sooner/quicker. Like @Nature Boy , I have 150 and 160 as well,, but haven't tried it yet. Should be very good stuff in .308. They tout N-150 as their least temp sensitive, but all are said to be stable.

 

[Nature Boy]

I have some tuned hunting loads using N140 that work fantastic with 150gn Nosler Accubonds. 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups “all day”

 

[peeplwtchr]

This is awesome guys, based on your feedback, N140 likes lighter projectiles, N150 likes a bit heavier. Seems as though VIT. thought this through, and planned a pretty good specialized product line. This makes me like them.

 

[JmacD]

N-140 is great stuff, but is a tad faster than RL-15 for me in Dasher and bumps up against max sooner/quicker. Like @Nature Boy , I have 150 and 160 as well,, but haven't tried it yet. Should be very good stuff in .308. They tout N-150 as their least temp sensitive, but all are said to be stable.

So far, & I’m just getting to really testing that aspect of it, n150 has been more sensitive to heat than cold. Velocity was relatively stable, but bolt got tougher faster. Now hopefully I can mess with it in the cold weather months(if I can make the chronograph batteries stay alive in said cold) and see what the really cold(below 35 f) does.

 

[JmacD]

This is awesome guys, based on your feedback, N140 likes lighter projectiles, N150 likes a bit heavier. Seems as though VIT. thought this through, and planned a pretty good specialized product line. This makes me like them.

I believe they are actually a far older company than Hodgdon. I hear people refer to them as new, and really they aren’t. Lol. I got some when it was all I could find and have actually been thankful.

It takes me 1/2 the time to clean a rifle using N140 vs Varget.

I had not thought about that. But that is absolutely my experience as well as I think about it.

 

[peeplwtchr]

So far, & I’m just getting to really testing that aspect of it, n150 has been more sensitive to heat than cold. Velocity was relatively stable, but bolt got tougher faster. Now hopefully I can mess with it in the cold weather months(if I can make the chronograph batteries stay alive in said cold) and see what the really cold(below 35 f) does.

Yeah today I was looking at a sensitivity test which said it was the lowest of all tested in heat (Including 8208, Varget). But who knows how humid, how hot the barrel was etc., just a baseline. It's hot here, so good feedback, thanks.

 

[Nature Boy]

I found another great N140 .308 hunting load using 165 SGKs, one of my favorites

 

[Buzznrose]

N140 is nearly a one for one substitute for Varget in my 308 loads, with the added benefit of it burning a helluva lot cleaner. It takes me 1/2 the time to clean a rifle using N140 vs Varget.

I have 16lbs of N150 but haven’t tried it yet. It’s a bit slower than N140 and should be good for a variety of 308 loads as well.

Not to hijack the thread, but VV is all I use anymore and I love the way it performs and how clean it burns in my pistols.

 

[Walkalong]

I hear people refer to them as new, and really they aren’t. Lol.

Nope, been around a long time, just not here.

 

[peeplwtchr]

Not to hijack the thread, but VV is all I use anymore and I love the way it performs and how clean it burns in my pistols.

Not hijacking. Good brand feedback.

 

[bigpower491]

I've used 150 in 308 with very good results, and that out of an FAL. 168gr Match Kings. Cannot recall the starting load offhand, but it does work well with this weight in that caliber. My only reason for not using it, it is among the most expensive propellants I have on the shelf, and the only thing I use in my 338-06, so Varget and IMR4064 were my mainstays for that volume of shooting.

 

[JmacD]

Yeah today I was looking at a sensitivity test which said it was the lowest of all tested in heat (Including 8208, Varget). But who knows how humid, how hot the barrel was etc., just a baseline. It's hot here, so good feedback, thanks.

I might also say I do find their website/app to be much more helpful than some. They update on a regular basis.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I might also say I do find their website/app to be much more helpful than some. They update on a regular basis.

Thanks, didn't know they had an app., I'll check it out.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I might also say I do find their website/app to be much more helpful than some. They update on a regular basis.

Great app., thanks! It also prompts for a reloading data update upon first use, very nice.