OK folks, I have been surfing for .357 powder for some time and had no luck. That is until "GunBot" showed that VIHTAVUORI N105 was available in 1lb lots. Very expensive, yet designed just for the .357 Magnum and the like.

How many of you have used this Finnish powder? I did the S&W search and came up with limited information on this powder, all positive except for COST. OK, I accept that, so what are the positive aspects of this powder for .357 Magnum?

Bitching about price doesn't count. That said... help me out here...

I use N320 in my .357's and notice that N105 is listed for the heavier stuff mainly. Are you shooting heavy bullets? With N320 I usually load both the min and max and find the powder very clean burning and quite accurate. I'm sure the N105 will give you the same results. Also, if you can find N110 instead of N105 you will have much more flexibility in your loading as the N110 covers almost all bullet weights both lead and jacketed than N105 and for the same bullet, N110 seems to give greater velocity than N105.
Stu

Yes, I am. Thanks for sharing your VV experiences. I recently picked up 3k of the Hornady 158gr XTP JHP. This is what I have chosen for my PD load and decided that that is what I should also practice at the range with. I have 4-boxes (200rd) of .357 and 3-boxes of .38 and 38+P commercial (all Remington) to shoot up, but THAT is going to have to be my total handgun brass supply for now. Not finding any .357 brass-only online, at all.

On another note, I did find brass for my .222 Remington and picked up 400rd for the other half of my new-to-me hobby...

Yupper, the N105 should work just fine with the 158 gr. JHP. Let us know how they shoot and welcome to an all absorbing hobby :~)
Stu

Yee Haw! Just found my .357 Brass at Brownells, thanks to gunbot. Adding the VV N105 I recently ordered, I am set to go!

I just received my order of VihtaVuori N105 powder for my .357 cal S&W 686. After checking Lee, 49th Lymans, "Handloads.org", Hornady, and VihtaVuori Loading Charts, I still have a question:

Is the loading data different for the 158gr FP/XTP bullets and the 158gr HP/XTP bullets when using VihtaVuori NP105?

FWIW, Most of the loading charts I am finding do not show any distinction between these bullets, OR they specify on ONE type.

1. Lee just shows just "158gr XTP"
2. VihtaVuori and "Handloads.org" shows specifically for 158gr FP/XTP but nothing about the HP/XTP

BTW, I have a stock of the 158gr HP/XTP bullets only.

I'm not aware of any difference between the two, except the OAL may be a bit different, but that should be set according to your barrel's chamber anyways.

As long as the weight and the bullet type are the same you can use the same data.Just don't start at the top.

Thanks guys. This will be my first experience with reloading (I think I hear Madonna singing in the background) , so I wanted to be sure. I like the idea that N105 is a higher volume-to-weight powder. Hopefully that will make it a bit easier for this newbie to learn on.

.357 Magnum, Hornady XTP 158gr bullet, with Vihtavuori N105 powder:

Min. to Max
11.7gr to 12.4gr --Vihtavuori data 1401--1466fps
10.9gr to 11.9gr --Lee Modern Reloading 1320--1417fps
10.5gr to 11.7gr --Handloads.com citing Vihtavuori xxxx--1399fps

From my untrained newbie reloading eyes, these all look to be consistent, or actually sequential in gr/fps. So, that said...

Am I safe to start out using the load range data from Vihtavuori, the powder manufacturer? 11.7gr -- 12.4gr

Use the data on the VV website at Products - Lapua
I always trust the powder manufacturers recommendations first. I use their data in my .38 Special and .45 ACP for N320 and it is amazing how clean the cases come from the gun.
Stu

Thanks Stu. That was what I was wanting to do, since 11.7gr is actually in the middle of the field if you take the sum min/max out of all three data sets listed. I was just surprised to see that 11.7gr was both a min AND a max load, depending on which data set one was looking at.
Thanks again...

I have tried N105, but never tried it for accuracy or velocity and only with plated bullets for 357. I even tried for .38 special with som LRN 158gr it it worked ok..

VV is expensive

probabily N110 would be better for 357

I prefer H110 Hodgdon

__________________
Smith, and Wesson, and Me!

Mike,
Hornady 8th edition lists the same load data for the XTP hollow point and the XTP flat point. C.O.L. of 1.590" for both. It does not list load data for N-105, only N-110.

I have found when comparing load data for identical powders and bullets between the Lyman 49th with the Hornady 8th edition that the Lyman tends to be a bit more conservative.

Thanks for the update about the Hornady 8th edition. Glad to have that part nailed down. Now just trying to figure out what adjustments to make regarding using SPM primers instead of SP. I had ordered and received 5k SPM when I was thinking I could find 2400 powder available, but ended up with the N105 because of availability.

Finally got some .357 Mag brass in so I can now begin building my reloading data. Figure the lowest of the low (10.5gr) is doable since using SPMs, they should be on the UP side of the pressure side. Not looking to change the world, just want a good load...

Funny how my .357 powder beat the .222 Remington powder to my doorstep... Either way, I am NOW empowered to ignore the World and head to the range!...

Anyway, won't ignore the group, but WILL head to the range once I have my first test loads ready... for the .357

I may wait on the .222 Remington for another trip...

The magnum primer will raise pressure a bit. Basically becomes a concern when you get up near the max load area.
Keep a watch for pressure signs if nearing max. You'll be fine with them.

Thanks Klyde. finally got some .357 brass in and can now develop a load. Just want a middle of the road load. Let me shoot 500 of so and then we will talk about up-ing the game, but not until then. Thanks.
Michael