Anyone load .45 ACP with Vihtavuori N320

[bgrafsr]

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.

 

[Moonman]

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.

 

[bgrafsr]

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.

 

[boatbum101]

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" .

 

[semperfi71]

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.

 

[125JHP]

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

 

[RussellD]

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..

 

[bgrafsr]

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.

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.

 

[bgrafsr]

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.

 

[David Sinko]

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

 

[SW CQB 45]

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."

 

[bgrafsr]

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."

Darn fine shooting. Thanks for the info.
Bill

 

[Aegis]

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.

 

[runehans]

Favorite .45 ACP load at the moment

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

 

[4barrel]

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."

Whats with the 5 flyers?

 

[SW CQB 45]

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.

 

[stu1ritter]

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

 

[bgrafsr]

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.

 

[tputto]

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.

 

[stu1ritter]

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

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