VV 500 series powders

[ARlife4me]

For the 500 series powders I have, but haven't used any yet are 550, 555, 560, 565, 568 and 570. For those who do have and have used how do they compare to what powders you used before with same bullet, same gun and how the results you're getting from them? From powders that are difficult to impossible to find/get that resulted in the move towards this series and glad you did kinda thing? The only VV powder I've used in loads is 3N37 which is nowhere near rifle powders. I've found it to be a good pistol powder and still use it.

If you would list cartridge, bullet(s) and VV powder and what powder (imr, hodgdon, alliant or rl) you used before on good, bad or equivalent?

I will also add 160 and 165 to the list as those are the only 2 other slowish powders I have to include.

 

[bamban]

I'll play

 

[ARlife4me]

I'll play

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Have these been improvements over other powders used? Some VV powders offer increase in velocity in certain cartridge-bullet combos, but that's all I see when using QL. Only because they're available or only because they improve? I have good hopes on these powders, but time will tell along with testing.

 

[bamban]

For the heavy bullets, the VV 5XX sure works better. When the 540 came out in the 90s, i switched and burned a bunch of it. I am a speed freak with precision. My buddies who were using IMRs on the long line, I was ahead of them by about 200 FPS. At 600 I did lose any precision and I shot them accurately.

Drawback, the brass are one and done. Small price to pay to win at 600.

 

[haisardao]

I love N570, I use it on my 300
Norma with 215 Bergers, I get 3200 fps. Same load but using H1000 3100 fps, plenty good and less erosion so I tend to gravitate that way. Now, for the 245 gr EOL, 87gr of N570 gets me 2995 fps, I haven't tried any thing else for this load.

 

[ARlife4me]

With QL in 264wm, 150smk, 32" barrel and n570 @ 3.650" (?) was giving me around 3,300fps to 3,350 (going off the top of my head) was the fastest by 50fps only when inputting lrt, 33 and 7828ssc among other slow burners. Retumbo was the slowest by 100fps or more. I think lrt and 33 was the closest? Barnes 145mb was a smoker also. 530 is a possible load for 45-70 I wasn't aware of? Finding h4198 for 45-70 is more ideal for speed.

 

[Barehandlineman11]

Vv powders give more velocity similar to reloader. They are much dirtier. I wont use them any more on guns running suppressors. I pretty much only use n570 any more in the big bores. N570 is also a throat eater.

Edit: ive noticed vv powders are sensitive above 70 degrees and really consistent below. Almost 1.6 fps per degree above 70 and around .3 per degree below. Vv seems too be more consistent lot to lot. I just had a gun that landed on 74 grains h1000 customer had to drop too 73 to get same velocity node due too different lots

 

[Veteran]

I shoot N560, N565, N568, and N570.

They are good powders and I like them. I have generally been able to get tighter groups using them vs. Retumbo or RL 26 or H1000.

The issues with these powders is grain/kernel size and measuring.
The bridge up in powder measures, and you really need a trickler to use them well.

N560 in particular is temperature sensitive above 85-90 degrees.
Probably none of them is as temperature insensitive as the Retumbo or H1000. RL-26 is also temperature sensitive and vulnerable above 85-90 degrees.

For very hot climates, I'd stick with Hodgdon Extremes. But otherwise, these VV are good powders.

 

[ARlife4me]

I shoot N560, N565, N568, and N570.

They are good powders and I like them. I have generally been able to get tighter groups using them vs. Retumbo or RL 26 or H1000.

The issues with these powders is grain/kernel size and measuring.
The bridge up in powder measures, and you really need a trickler to use them well.

N560 in particular is temperature sensitive above 85-90 degrees.
Probably none of them is as temperature insensitive as the Retumbo or H1000. RL-26 is also temperature sensitive and vulnerable above 85-90 degrees.

For very hot climates, I'd stick with Hodgdon Extremes. But otherwise, these VV are good powders.

What cartridges do you use those powders in?

 

[Veteran]

What cartridges do you use those powders in?

.300 WM .338 LM

 

[ARlife4me]

.300 WM .338 LM

On the 300wm what powders and bullet combos did you use

 

[bamban]

On the 300wm what powders and bullet combos did you use

Not @Veteran I just came back from the range tested the new 18 inch Proof CF 300WM suppressed. I grabbed the old load I had from the other 300WMs.

75.5 H1000, 2660 muzzle
79.0 N570 2750
Virgin Peterson Long
215 FGMM
215 Berger Hybrids.

Confirmed drops across the 100 yard increment. Not exactly click for click, but all in the general area.

Humidity was brutal, we can wring the sweat off our shirts...

 

[ARlife4me]

Not @Veteran I just came back from the range tested the new 18 inch Proof CF 300WM suppressed. I grabbed the old load I had from the other 300WMs.

75.5 H1000, 2660 muzzle
79.0 N570 2750
Virgin Peterson Long
215 FGMM
215 Berger Hybrids.

Confirmed drops across the 100 yard increment. Not exactly cluck for click, but all in the general area.

View attachment 471063

Humidity was brutal, we can wring the sweat off our shirts...

I don't like so. Tx weather even in the winter.......except for the time it snowed back in '17 after Thanksgiving. My oldest is thinking about moving to Houston area and I told him I wouldn't be visiting him.....well I know that won't be happening

 

[ARlife4me]

Not @Veteran I just came back from the range tested the new 18 inch Proof CF 300WM suppressed. I grabbed the old load I had from the other 300WMs.

75.5 H1000, 2660 muzzle
79.0 N570 2750
Virgin Peterson Long
215 FGMM
215 Berger Hybrids.

Confirmed drops across the 100 yard increment. Not exactly cluck for click, but all in the general area.

View attachment 471063

Humidity was brutal, we can wring the sweat off our shirts...

BTW, that's smoking fast for an 18"