Need help, Quick Load for .38spl with VV N340

The bullet is a Rim Rock 158gr swc. The bullet length is .693 and the nose to crimp is .324. I would like to run it with 6.0, 6.3 and 6.7 gr of VV N340. The OAL would be 1.474. I just needed to get someone to commit to helping me but all I get is questions............................
 
Last edited:
Hey bud,

Nice seeing your name pop up.
You probably know from singleactions that Vihtavouri N340 is my favorite powder.
It has the three, great traits for a powder.
Accurate
Clean
Downloads and Uploads linear. Not spiky.

The downside is that it is expensive; mitigated by the fact, you get what you pay for. Powder is also the cheapest component of a round.

When you go to the load data from VV, you will see several choices in 38 special. There is an old copy and a new copy for VV. Message me if you can't find the old one.

For a 146gr bullet of unknown type, I suggest starting around 4.8gr and maxing around 5.8gr. That should give you somewhere around 850 - 950fps depending on gun and bullet. VV says even a little faster fps. I have also seen loads taken to over 1200fps by increasing powder; so this uploads without spiking pressure. It is linear.
If going with a heavier bullet, you MUST reduce powder weight.

Vihtavouri is really lacking in supporting the reloading community with load data. There is a huge HOLE in their .32 data. Except for the .32 SW long using wadcutter, it doesn't exist. I wrote them last week and got NO assistance. The US folks are "requesting" Finland to review the issue sometime in the future if they can get around to it. Not holding my breath.

This link has the most VV load data I've seen not from VV.
Shooter's Reference Load Data for

So if you find a bunch of other load data, LET ME KNOW !


Prescut

Few writers and testers have chosen to use Vihtavouri so making comparisons to the VV data is tough. Handloader supposedly had a suggestion on N340 and the 38 spl but I can't find the article.
 
Last edited:
Oddshooter, I first was considering 6.0 as the max. You had to go to the European data to even get that. I saw some data for 6.3 and loaded a few to test in my LCRX. These weren't bad and I loaded a pretty good run of 6.2 and boxed them for using ammo. The latest data in the VV on line manual has from 5.8 to 6gr with 158 to 160gr bullets and a listing for 6.7 LOS FP and 6.8 Berry's FP with full weight bullets. I'm just trying to get a QL read out for expected PSI. Larry Gibson came through here on vacation and I sent him home with a pound of N340, 1K each of small and large pistol primers and some bullets for him to run some pressure tests. The data is so all over the place that I'm just trying to get an idea what I'm dealing with..........
 
Last edited:
I was still editing my post when you posted.

Your saying the data is so all over the place is the statement of the month. I believe one reason is because it downloads and uploads so well people use it for everything. VV even calls N340 their best "all around" powder.

I use it in .32SW long, .32 H&Rmag, 327fedmag, 9mm, 38spl, 357mag, 41mag, 44spl, 44 mag, 45 ACP, 45 Colt, .455 Webley and I'm sure a couple more.

PSI was running 16,000 to 21,000 if I recall correctly.

Prescut
You gotta check out that link I gave.
 
VV .38spl data

Check out the loads for the 140gr jhp with 3N37........
 

Attachments

  • 5579D595-AF95-4D0F-9B4B-415C8E622697.jpg
    5579D595-AF95-4D0F-9B4B-415C8E622697.jpg
    43.3 KB · Views: 60
Last edited:
That page looks really similar to what I'm seeing with a chrono and using Gordon's Reloading Tool, a free tool like QuickLoad, to get a double check on what pressure my revolver is probably experencing.

Using 5.4gr under a hi-tek coated SWC 158gr projectile, seated to crimp in the groove I get around 810fps average. I have noticed some variation which I think have been temperature dependent as I've shot at 40F and 95F.

I shoot a lot of 100 year old guns so I try to keep my loads under 850fps even though VV gives 158gr load data which break 1000fps in their test barrel. My understanding this is a fixed barrel and NOT a revolver with cylinder gap.

Love N340! I use it for so many calibers now. My fallback is Unique but it doesn't meter as well and is dirty, though cheaper.
 
Oddshooter, I first was considering 6.0 as the max. You had to go to the European data to even get that. I saw some data for 6.3 and loaded a few to test in my LCRX. These weren't bad and I loaded a pretty good run of 6.2 and boxed them for using ammo. The latest data in the VV on line manual has from 5.8 to 6gr with 158 to 160gr bullets and a listing for 6.7 LOS FP and 6.8 Berry's FP with full weight bullets. I'm just trying to get a QL read out for expected PSI. Larry Gibson came through here on vacation and I sent him home with a pound of N340, 1K each of small and large pistol primers and some bullets for him to run some pressure tests. The data is so all over the place that I'm just trying to get an idea what I'm dealing with..........


Well Partner, that looks right in line with what I've read and seen. I'm guessing that the 1200fps was from that 6.8gr load. In the tables, the pressure from lower loads was 16,000 and the pressure for hotter loads was 21,000. So 5,000 higher going from 5.3 to 5.9gr. IF, IF, IF the pressure increase is linear, going from 5.9 to 6.8 might go 7,500 more or 28,500. I think H110 doing this might be a bomb because it is not linear; it is the definition of spiky. N340 might get away with it.

But going above 6.0gr with a 158gr bullet is going to be a lot of extrapolation. Use a long string to test that one. :p

Those are all SWAG (Scientific Wild Azz Guess). I could be totally wrong.

About the only thing I've been doing is starting low and watching pressure signs and velocities. If .2grs more powder are in line with a linear progression, you are OK; but if you see bigger velocity increases suddenly, you have entered spiky zone and danger is your sidekick.


Prescut
Duh, one more thought; shoot those in a 357mag to get velocities before going to your 38 special sixgun. I often equate velocity with pressure.
I also just scored 4# of N350 from Powder Valley; after that thread on singleactions.
 
Last edited:
Someone posted it in my N110 in .38spl thread on Cast Boolits forum because the 180gr bullet has it listed............

It is obviously from a VihtaVuori manual.......

Larry Gibson from the Cast Boolits forum has a pressure test set-up on a contender and He is going to run some tests for me. I always fire any new .38spl loads in a .357 first to see if I get any pressure signs especially sticky cases and most of my .38s are loaded with soft Remington 1 1/2 primers so primer appearance can be observed.

If you google VV newest loading data the .38spl lists have the 6.7 and 6.8 listed.........
 
Last edited:
Over here in Europe the American powders are usually about the same price as Vihtavuori if not more expensive. (Lovex from the Explosia company is cheaper but you either love it or hate it, it seems.)
Therefore, because it's so good and usually pretty easily available, most serious shooters and competitors use VV.

For developing loads, there's a growing shooting and reloading community that use the shareware competitor to QL called GRT ('Gordon's Reloading Tool', named after the main programmer).
Contrary to QL this is freeware/shareware - check out start [Gordons Reloading Tool Community].

I can recommend it for building your own load estimates even if it requires some investment in time to get to know its features.
 
.38spl VVN340 158gr Rim Rock swcbb Pressure data

Contender 7.9" data oal 1.500 Rem 1 1/2 primers;

6.0gr 1109fps 21,900psi

6.3gr 1159fps 23,200psi

6.5gr 1191fps 26,000psi

Speer 135gr GDHPSB Rem 1 1/2 primer oal 1.450 7.9" contender

7.5gr VV3N37 1203fps 20,000psi

6.0gr VV340 1173fps 18,600psi

from a few years ago Hoptob gave the 7.5gr 3N37 load at 1011fps from an Sp101 2 1/4" and 998fps from an S&W M-442 1 7/8"


Larry Gibson from the Cast Boolit forum loaded these using bullets primers and powder I sent home with him last summer. I really appreciate the effort he expended on this.........
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top