VN350 or N105 125gr .357 magnum

[Sharpshooter82]

Hi,
I have a nice smith and Wesson 686plus. I was using Vit n340 for 125gr .357 magnum loads but was only getting 1286fps
Looking at either using n350 or n105 to get a velocity close to 1400fps

Anyone with 6inch barrel used either powder with 125gr magnum loads, what velocity did you get ?

Which one should I use ?

Cheers

 

[oddshooter]

First, welcome to the Forum. Interesting first post. You've got your first "like"


Sorry, bud, I don't use the 125g; too light for my tastes. You've entered the territory discovered long ago to cause top strap burn and cracked barrels on K frame Model 19's. That was the reason most heard for the creation of your Model L, 686. I tend toward 158g up to 200g.


The Vihtavouri on the other hand is my absolute favorite powder. I use a lot of N340 and N110.

You didn't list your load. I would push that N340 to the max without worry. I believe the Vihta to be stable. No spikes, only linear progressions.
The N350 will give you higher velocity, but I'm guessing only guessing at about 100fps.

My old Vihta book for a Hornady FP/XTP 125g shows:

N340 7.8 1352fps and 8.8 1462

N350 8.7 1415fps and 9.7 1512

N110 16.8 1601fps and 18.4 1772

I see no recipes for the N105 and 357mag.

What book and recipe are you using? The new one
Handgun reloading data | Loads for pistol calibers | Handloads | Pistol powders | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori

has your max n340 load hitting well over 1400.

What is magic about 1400fps?

Prescut
If you want the PDF of that old Vihta manual, PM me an email address.

 

[Sharpshooter82]

First, welcome to the Forum. Interesting first post. You've got your first "like"


Sorry, bud, I don't use the 125g; too light for my tastes. You've entered the territory discovered long ago to cause top strap burn and cracked barrels on K frame Model 19's. That was the reason most heard for the creation of your Model L, 686. I tend toward 158g up to 200g.


The Vihtavouri on the other hand is my absolute favorite powder. I use a lot of N340 and N110.

You didn't list your load. I would push that N340 to the max without worry. I believe the Vihta to be stable. No spikes, only linear progressions.
The N350 will give you higher velocity, but I'm guessing only guessing at about 100fps.

My old Vihta book for a Hornady FP/XTP 125g shows:

N340 7.8 1352fps and 8.8 1462

N350 8.7 1415fps and 9.7 1512

N110 16.8 1601fps and 18.4 1772

I see no recipes for the N105 and 357mag.

What book and recipe are you using? The new one
Handgun reloading data | Loads for pistol calibers | Handloads | Pistol powders | Reload your own ammo - Vihtavuori

has your max n340 load hitting well over 1400.

What is magic about 1400fps?

Prescut
If you want the PDF of that old Vihta manual, PM me an email address.

hi, thanks for the like lol my load using vn340 was the max load 9.7gr, serria JHP bullet which went around 1286fps
my smith and wesson 686 is a custom special which has a 11.8 inch barrel due to stupid UK mainland communist sheep laws.

1350 - 1400 fps is what i'm looking for, i just like the old police load.

the load data for N105 is on the Vihtavurouri website

funny thing though when using n340 for .38spl +p loads i was getting the quoted velocities from vihtavurouri

 

[Kurusu]

I use neither. What I use is Vihtavuori N110.

 

[Rogeronimo]

In the rifle section, Sierra lists loads using N350, N110, and my favorite, 3N38, from a 586L-comp.

 

[HorizontalMike]

I love N105. That said, it is designed for heavier bullets. I get ~1,400fps with my 158xtps in .357 Mag. Never tried, or will try lighter lead with N105... HS6 OK, as that works as well in lighter loads and .38+P or less.

I also can load up 9mm with 147xtp and N105 (this load is a bit longer and may or may NOT work in some 9mm Lugers). I have gotten 1,025fps with my 4.25in 9mm Luger using N105. In other words, make sure to check your own data/research and be careful working up your own loads...

It can be done, but be careful...

 

[Sharpshooter82]

I love N105. That said, it is designed for heavier bullets. I get ~1,400fps with my 158xtps in .357 Mag. Never tried, or will try lighter lead with N105... HS6 OK, as that works as well in lighter loads and .38+P or less.

I also can load up 9mm with 147xtp and N105 (this load is a bit longer and may or may NOT work in some 9mm Lugers). I have gotten 1,025fps with my 4.25in 9mm Luger using N105. In other words, make sure to check your own data/research and be careful working up your own loads...

It can be done, but be careful...

the n105 load data has loads for the 125gr JHP serria bullets
ideally the starting load would get me to the velocity that i want (1350- 1400fps) i weigh all my magnum loads before seating a bullet and every 10 loads when i load 38spl.

the other day i loaded 20 rounds with longshot (towards the max load after testing with the starting loads) so that will be interesting what velocity i will get, but it meters badly so wont be using it again.

 

[Nevada Ed]

N350 is a good powder for "Major 9mm" that can push a 115gr to 1452fps........

but a 357, 125gr at 1400fps is only what I use for Varmint hunting on the few shots that I take, since the 140 XTP bucks the Nevada wind better and shots a tighter group at 200 yards.

If those powders work for you, go for it.

 

[boatbum101]

In 357 mag loads think of N-340 like you'd use Unique . N-350 like Blue Dot & N-110 like 2400 . N-105 is a bit more narrow in it's preferred pressure range , it wants upper ranges like H-110 / W-296 . Best results in 357 will be 158gr & heavier the better , I actually think 158 is at the bottom of it's preferred range . I use N-120 in my 357 Max with 180 - 200gr bullets .
For US shooters the VV powders are expensive , even higher than Norma powders . I've heard that US powders are the same for UK & Euro shooters . If I had access to the entire line of Vetcan powders I'd be looking at them for sure . What's available here is sure priced real nice .

 

[Nevada Ed]

Just as a note;

the 357 Magnum can also be accurate with slower loads.
My 686 6" with a 125 gr JHP likes w231 and CFE pistol powders.

This is a picture with the new CFE powder, on a day just getting chrony/fps data for my records.
The target was at 15 yards off sand bags with stock iron sights.

 

[snowman]

Hi,
I have a nice smith and Wesson 686plus. I was using Vit n340 for 125gr .357 magnum loads but was only getting 1286fps
Looking at either using n350 or n105 to get a velocity close to 1400fps

Anyone with 6inch barrel used either powder with 125gr magnum loads, what velocity did you get ?

Which one should I use ?

Cheers

Sir,

I use 16gr. of VV N110 and 125gr. JHPs with my 8-3/8" 686. It's been a long while since I chronographed them, but I'm virtually certain they exceeded 1400fps by a good bit. 1546 is what I seem to recall, but my memory has been failing somewhat in recent times. N105 is somewhat faster on burn rate charts and therefore will likely generate somewhat lower velocities -don't know how much, though.

Best wishes,
Andy

 

[Sharpshooter82]

Sir,

I use 16gr. of VV N110 and 125gr. JHPs with my 8-3/8" 686. It's been a long while since I chronographed them, but I'm virtually certain they exceeded 1400fps by a good bit. 1546 is what I seem to recall, but my memory has been failing somewhat in recent times. N105 is somewhat faster on burn rate charts and therefore will likely generate somewhat lower velocities -don't know how much, though.

Best wishes,
Andy

Cheers for the info, I’m going to give n105 ago with the starting load and will crono the first 7 shots ! You mention that you have 8-3/8 inch barrel well mine is a 12inch barrel thanks to U.K. mainland communist sheep laws. The gun smith did a good job though, the gun only weights 49.80 oz

 

[oddshooter]

sharpshooter,

You do know that we love pics. I would enjoy seeing that hawgleg of yours.

Prescut