Vihtavuori Pistol Loads?

[forsyth793]

I'am looking for some cleaner burning Powder for Stainless Steel S&W Revolvers 158 grain bullets in .38 Spec/.357 Mag and 240 grain bullets in .44 Spec/.44 Mag. The N-340 and the N-350 Powders look like good choices. What's been your experiences???

 

[TSQUARED]

I hve used VV N-310 in mild 38 Special, and 45 ACP loads with plated and jacketed bullets. I have also used VV N-320 and VV N-330 in 9mm loads with plated and jacketed bullets. If you are shooting lead bullets the benefits of the cleaner burning powder may be minimal since most of the gunk is from lead and the lube.
Currently I use Trail Boss for all my lead bulet loads in the old straight walled pistol cases - 38 Special, 45 AR, 44 Special 45 Colt.

 

[johngalt]

I've also used VV N310 for target loads: .38 special 148 HBWC and .45 auto 185 gr LSWC. I found it to be considerably cleaner than Bullseye, but I still have to clean up when done.

I did notice that the residue left behind seemed a little 'grittier' than Bullseye. Bullseye, while very dirty, leaves a very fine ash behind that cleans up quickly. Cleanup time was a little quicker with N310 vs. Bullseye, but not so much that I would choose it for that reason alone.

 

[oldRoger]

I use both N-350 & 3N37. I have a few N340 loads but for some reason don't seem to reach for that bottle much.
Since I shoot mostly lead I get a fair amount of "dirt" and smoke from bullet lube anyway.

 

[perrazi]

as previously stated, cleaner burning powder when shooting lead is of small consequence. now with plated or jacketed, the difference is noticeable. vv loading data by them is quite accurate in my finding. the problem with the powder is one of supply. it can be spotty in some of the more popular numbers.

 

[chriske]

One of my favorite loads is a 158 gr plated SWC (from H&N, excellent stuff) atop of 4.5 Gr of VihtaVuori N-320 in .38 Spl cases (Winchester small pistol primers) .

Haven't chronographed that load, but it seems to "behave" pretty much on par with factory non +P loads of the same bullet weight/configuration (in terms of report, recoil, poa/poi relation)

Very accurate from both my S&W mod 15's (one 2" and one 4" barreled) and my 640, a bit less accurate from .357Mag chambered 4" mod. 586 & 6" mod. 28.

And cleaner than most other loads I've tried in that caliber/power level.