I understand N320 is very good for loads in .45 ACP and does not throw sparks or debris from the chamber of the barrel like WW-231 does, nor does it burn the side of the case like TiteGroup does. I'm looking for a nice easy target/plinking load using a 200 grain lead RN bullet from Penn Bullets.
I am using a WW1 Colt frame from around 1916 or so with a newer no name commercial slide and a Colt Series 70 barrel & bushing. The frame is not of collector value, has some pitting, and has been reparkerized a time or two.

Bill,

I loaded some Jacketed Hornady HP/XTP's with Vhitavouri N320, in different loads.

I haven't shot any yet in my 45.

Vhitovouri is supposedly VERY GOOD POWDER, but expensive.

Give Robert Palermo of Penn Bullets, a call or E-mail, he's also a member here (PM him).

Maybe he can steer you straight, he's good people.

See you in a few weeks, I want to see your 14, I'm bringing my new PPC Constructed M64 with Nill Grips to show.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Sounds good Moonman. Looking forward to seeing you. I found another nice load on Cast Boolits using WST, which I have, so I loaded up several rounds with that. I hear Unique, Clays, & Red Dot are other good powders too. I have plenty of Clays but I use that powder for my trap loads, and of course I have lots of Unique also.

I'm using Missouri Bullets not Penn for the .45. I just checked the box.

Try 4.2gr with either VVN 320 or WST with 200's . With 230 FMJ's try 4.8 WST or 5.2 VVN 320 . 4.8 - 5.0 Titegroup also good 230 FMJ load .I shoot these in Bulleye or CMP " leg matches" .

bgrafsr,

I know that you are one of the topmost knowledgeable S&W collectors on this Forum and am reticent to share advice with you but I hope this helps.

I am not loading VVN320 in the .45 ACP.

However I am loading just about every powder available for handguns from .32 S&W Long to .45 Colt.

I have been reloading for about 42 years.

In the .45 ACP, for a target/plinking load there are at least 45 powders available to fill that request.

I test my loads at 25 yards from a two handed rest. Once I find a five shot group that is promising I reload the powder to shoot a ten shot group.

I have found out that every handgun prefers one or several powders over others and sometimes very graphically. I have a M66-1 2 1/2 inch that will only shoot VVN105 accurately with 158 grain lead SWC's. Everything else is "patterns".

I have found that every powder that I have ever heard of, either here, online elsewhere, or in the print media; that is touted as the "most accurate" or "my favorite" will not always shoot accurately in all handguns. Some of the top most rated powders have given me groups as large as 7 inches and as small as 2 inches. Again dependent on the handgun.

Many people, from Elmer Keith forward have extolled 2400 as "the" Magnum handgun powder. I have currently only found two handguns that will shoot this powder more accurately than H110/W296, 4100, VVN105, 410, and VVN110. That has been in at least two or four .44 Magnums and eleven or more .357 Magnums.

I have also found that the powder selection is more critical in the accuracy process than the bullets. Most bullets (jacketed or lead) that I have worked with will show good accuracy, one just has to find the right powder.

The VV powders are great powders and have great potential but expensive and sometimes hard to find, if not impossible in my area so I order from Graf and Sons. Great people.

So, excuse my long thesis, but you may simply find that the more "local", easily available, and cheaper powders will perform for you.

Good luck and good shooting.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Here is one I recently put together and it was accurate for me.

45 acp XD-45 Tac 5" 200 m.LRN Billy's Molycoated N-320 5.0gr 1.265" Alcan LP PMC case 160PF 800fps

Opinions are like necks-everyone has one. I have been loading VV-N320. It works great-burns cleaner than 231, meters well on the Dillon, and gives satisfactory feedback on the target.

Go to the web site, get some data and crank a few out..

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The American dream is alive

Thank you for the advice and for the nice compliment too. I don't consider myself one of the "topmost" knowledgeable persons on this Forum, far from it, but I'm always willing to help someone if I can.

Thank you all for the replies. I called my local gunshop and asked if they could order me a pound of the VV N320. In the meantime I'm going to try WST.

I once tried 4.5 grs. of N320 with a 200 gr. plated bullet. Velocity over the chrono was only 550 FPS. This was out of a 4" 625 so I don't know if it will cycle the slide in an auto.

I also used 5.5 grs. of N320 with a 230 gr. cast bullet. Velocity was 860 FPS out of the same revolver.

I find that Clays is better for reduced loads because it's just as clean and much cheaper. For heavier loadings 231 is better because it burns just as clean when pushed hard, gives very consistent velocity and of course it's also much cheaper and more widely available. I still have some N320 but rarely use it because something else almost always does the job better and while yes, it is a good general purpose powder for most applications, I frankly can't afford it in the volume that I shoot.

Dave Sinko

Howdy Bill, last year i used N320 and Penn 200 lswc as my comp load

I will look it up tomorrow.

Somebody gave me 3lbs of WST, so i will be using that this year.

ADDED:
4.2 VVN320 Penn LSWC 1.245" (my notes indicate nice soft load)

I shot this target at a match in June 2012 using the above load. I actually do well at this range because the sun is behind you and the area is surrounded by trees, so wind is usually not a factor. I recall pushing the high ones at 25 yds.

Springfield Armory Range Officer with 16 lbs recoil spring.

5, 7, 15 and 25 yds no support and timed.



Moonman.....can we see pics of this
"I'm bringing my new PPC Constructed M64 with Nill Grips to show."

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if you're gonna be a bear...

Darn fine shooting. Thanks for the info.
Bill

I am currently loading 45ACP with N320 5.5 grains with a 230 grain JHP. I pretty much only use VV powders in my Dillon 550. Clean burn and meters well.

I am currently using 5.0 gr VV N320 and a 200 gr SWC in my SIG P220 X-Six. Works like a charm.

Whats with the 5 flyers?

hahahhahah, actually 6.

I looked at this target and I recall at the 7 yd line on my last shot of 12, I completely lost concentration and push the highest 9. I was pissed.

the other 5 were from the 25. I was moving too much.

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if you're gonna be a bear...

I'm loading N320 in .45ACP with 200LSWC I'm using 4.2 gr. which is .5 grains under the start load in my Mike Curtis wad gun and find it very accurate. I was using WST when I switched over to N320. Very clean burning powder and meters as well as Bullseye out of my LNL measure. I'm using a 10 lb. spring for this load with open sights. Very pleasant load and going through a hundred or so is very comfortable.
Stu

Thank you. A 10# spring? You obviously do not shoot hardball in the gun.

5.0 grains of N320 with a 230 grain bullet is my basic load. N320 works well for 38spl too.
N340 is also very consistent and gets a bit more velocity if that is needed.

The Vihtavuori factory in Finland has been for sale by owner Eurenco.
It is possible that the factory will close unless new investors are found.

When I did shoot hardball I had a hardball gun. At 4.2 VV N320 I am near the top for the 10# spring. Drops the cases in just the right place in a relatively (ha) neat little circle. BUT I sure do clean a lot less often with VV320 then with most any other powder I've tried and especially the old standby Bullseye, argh was that stuff dirty.
Stu

Hi,
I would like to load 230gr bullets for my 625 5". The load must have 170+ power f. (IPSC):

1. In the winter I shoot 230gr copperplated bullets (manufact. by LOS Slovenija) ,
2. and he rest of the year 230gr powdercoated bullets (LEE 230 RN cast bullits and than powdercoated
- mesured on chrono 10-12% faster than copperplated ).

Which loads would you recomend me with VV320.

Stefan

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Regards from Alps !

The best load I've found for accuracy in a 45 ACP is 4.2 grains of Vit N310 with a Remington 185 grain jacketed wadcutter in .452" size. My wadcutter autos built by David Sams shoot 1.75" or less at 50 yards from a machine rest.



Interestingly, other bullets I've tried such as Laser Cast 200 and 185 grain lead SWC, Meister 180 and 200 grain SWC work very well with this load, especially with my 625 revolver.

5.0 grains of Win 231 is also an excellent load, though as mentioned earlier is a bit more dirty to use.

As good as it is in the accuracy department Bullseye is my backup, for use only when I run out of all other powders. Too dirty for me even with its more modern formulation.

Thanks cprher
but I nneed an load for dynamic shooting (IPSC or Am. wersion USPSA) and 170+PF.
Thats why I shoot 230 grain bullets.

__________________
Regards from Alps !

Can anyone help me with this?

Stefan

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Regards from Alps !

My above load using 5.5 grs. should be just what you need. I even used a 625 and your extra inch of barrel will be a bonus.

Dave Sinko

I worked up a load with the 200 gr H&G68 cast bullet over 25 years ago (midrange bullseye load) of 4.3 gr 231. Two years ago I questioned the load and new powders available and made up about a dozen diff loads with that many powders. Using a Ransom rest at 25 yards I re-confirmed that the 4.3 gr. of 231 was still the best in both a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup and a Springfield Armory 5" gun. Nuff said for me.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thank you !

What are your ex. about N310 in .45ACP loads.

Stefan

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Regards from Alps !

For over 30 years the standard "duty" level load for 45 ACP shooting a lead SWC has been the H&G #68 over 5.6 grains of Win 231; but I use the Laser Cast 200 grain lead SWC bevel base with excellent results. It makes a power factor of 180 in any 1911 I've ever used or heard of and is very accurate. You don't need to use 230 grain bullets. In doing so you normally give up some accuracy and needlessly increase felt recoil, both of which give away points. Quite frankly, experimenting with the 45 ACP while fun is pretty much a waste of time unless you are tailoring a load for max accuracy at 50 yards in a particular gun. Everything that can be tried has been and you can find the results with a simple Google search.

4.0 - 4.2 grains of Vit N310 with the Remington 185 jacketed SWC in .452" is the hot ticket in terms of accuracy in every Bullseye 1911 I've ever tried. It just can't be beat in my opinion.

The VV N320 load that I like for the .45 ACP is:

IMI Match brass
W-W 230 gr. FMJ
Fed. 150 primer
5.2 gr. N320
1.260 COL

VV load data lists the velocity as 850 fps. out of a 6" bbl.
I haven't had a chance to chronograph the load out of a 5" bbl.
Accuracy is excellent and the N320 is very clean burning.

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JimC

Perhaps I'm the only one on the planet with such results, but my own experience with VVN320 simply wasn't worth the additional expense.

And while I'm not shooting Bullseye matches, HP39/W231/Clays/Universal/TiteGroup/Trail Boss and a number of other powders have met my own needs reliably, accurately, and pleasantly....including the Holy Black.....for a variety of 45 cal uses in a wide variety of hand guns.

VVN320 was pleasant enough to handle & loaded well. Perhaps I was expecting too much some kind of 'peak experience' with the marque.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I've had excellent results using N320 in 9mm.
For the .45 Auto, I prefer n310 as stated above.
Bear in mind that this is for target/competition.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I bought N320 a month ago in Slovenija.
I have to say, that I am dissapointed.
With:
230grain RN bullet
31,6mm oal,
Federal 150 LP primer and
5,2gr N320 i had only 152PF (661,79 fps about the same in my frinds colt 1911), the load data that I saw on Lapua is not correct for my N320 at all.

Than I borrowed some N320 from my friend, who bought it a feew moths ago (allso jumbo pack - 10kg) and had the same results.

I have to say that the N320 that I have dont burn clean at all the rests in my of unburned powder in my revolver make reload vith moon clips allmost unpossible (every second reload is jamming)..
I had much better results vith Lovex DO32.


Regards

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Regards from Alps !

Does anyone have a good load in 45 ACP with 230 gr lead and also 230 gr XTP bullets using N-320?

I've had good results with 5.2 gr of VV-N 320 in .45ACP/200gr RN (H&N plated bullet) from my Norinco 1911

can you help me with the col that your using? i to am using a 550b. my bullets are xtp

were you able to find any loads for the 230 xtp?

hey russ, do you have a load for the 230 xtp? thanks

I started loading 5.2gr N320 behind a Hornady 230gr FMJ-RN. Wouldn't fully cycle the slide with 17lb recoil springs in both of my 1911's. Out of 200 rounds, 5 FTE's. Was very accurate and soft shooting.

Bumped it up to 5.5gr N320 with same 230gr FMJ-RN, cycles the slide perfectly, super clean, very accurate and is overall a very nice target load. No failures so far in 400 rounds with this load.

I am going to try lighter charges of N320 with lighter recoil springs in my 1911's to see how that all shakes out.

I use 4.0 grains N310 with a powder coated 200 grain SWC from SNS casting for a light target load. Super clean load. No soot, no unburned powder, no fouling in the bore, superb accuracy, meters very consistently.
Get N320 if you want an all around .45acp powder, but for target loads N310 is the best I've used. I switched over from Clays.