Powders & Cleaning

[tbcollins]

Just a couple quick questions. First, read lots of posts here on reloading and recommended powders. I'm loading .45ACP, .40 S&W, .357 Mag. Looking through my manual, I decided to go with Vihtavuori N350. Just seemed to have the best numbers across the board for me to load all 3 calibers with one powder. Just seen lots of recommendations for powder use, just don't think I've ever seen this recommended or mention once. There a reason?

Second, Is there a good (EASY) way to clean cases after loading? I've read that you can throw them back in your tumbler for a few minutes just to clean them up and get the lube off. Loading .223 75GR BTHP. Just not sure if getting anything in the hollow point will effect anything (rather small hole). Is there a good way to clean the rounds?

[joelogic]

Hand towel. Paper towel. Personally I process and load in two different runs for rifle brass. So I only load clean brass and I dont lube pistol brass when I load those.

[Fjold]

Vihtavuori powders are harder to find sometimes and usually more expensive. Just because a powder can be used in multiple cartridges there is no guaranty that it will work well in three different guns. Some load/gun combinations show distinct powder preferences.

[swerv512]

Second, Is there a good (EASY) way to clean cases after loading? I've read that you can throw them back in your tumbler for a few minutes just to clean them up and get the lube off.

my advice: tumble the brass after a range session until clean- you dont want any debris getting into your dies that can cause irregularities (scratches). then tumble once more after the sizing stage to get the lube off. the second tumbling shouldnt take long at all because its only case lube not carbon and powder fouling.

[Zeke003]

I agree with Swerv, I tumble my rifle brass after resizing to get the case lube off.

[Boots]

I agree with Swerv, I tumble my rifle brass after resizing to get the case lube off.

[RaymondMillbrae]

Click on the link below my signature. (RELOADING .223 VIDEO).

It was made for yall.

In Christ: Raymond

[Rotting]

Just a couple quick questions. First, read lots of posts here on reloading and recommended powders. I'm loading .45ACP, .40 S&W, .357 Mag. Looking through my manual, I decided to go with Vihtavuori N350. Just seemed to have the best numbers across the board for me to load all 3 calibers with one powder. Just seen lots of recommendations for powder use, just don't think I've ever seen this recommended or mention once. There a reason?

I recommended that very powder earlier this week in a 44 Magnum application. As you can see, it is a very versatile powder. I use a TON of it. So, you've chosen a very good powder.

You will be very happy with this powder. It burns super-cleanly and gives great performance. After loading a few batches with N350, try N340 and N320 as well. These are my three go-to pistol powders.

[Linkpimp]

Sorry guys.. But I’m going to go against the grain here and say NOoooooo.. Please do not tumble your brass twice!.. OMG NO……… hahahaha


You don't want to do this for the following reason..

Media will get stuck in your flash hole and unless you going to clean out every flash hole, you never, ever want to do this.. Your asking for trouble and taking unnecessary risks.. We the (old farts in reloading) do not take unnecessary risks.


Please don't do this.. Ever.. If you did, them I strongly suggest that you pull everyone of those bullets apart, sorry but if your not 100% sure of the load then you don't shoot it..

my two cents..

[ireload]

I have no experience with OP choice nor any Vit powder type. I've been using Unique for sometime now. Works good for my .38spl, 357mag, 9mm, and .45acp.

Now regarding lube removal after sizing, I throw the brass in my vibratory cleaner for 15 mins. I check each brass for plugged flash hole due to cleaning media as needed.

[Linkpimp]

Ooo just a few thoughts on your powder choice..





1. I love Viht powder and try to use it everywhere I can..
2. I’ve found it (for me) the cleanest burning powder period.
3. It’s controllable and works well in the calibers referenced above IMO (but) then again I’m only talking about Viht powder in general here.
4. It does coast a lot.. you can expect to pay around $32 per pound
5. It’s not too easy to come by.. But it is out there..
6. Viht has an excellent manual with their own recommendations for all calibers, please print this out and use this as one of your front line references http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_...deEdition8.pdf

Here's the burn chart just incase you need this one?? http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html


Ok, now let’s talk about your chosen one, the “N350 powder”..
That’s IMO a great powder choice I just wanted to make sure that you are aware of the following:

The N350 is classified as a (fast burning powder) #57 out of 173 and there for when you go to load up your round and use say a fast burning primer (CCI) you will have different results (higher pressure signs and possibly better accuracy) verses using a slower burning primer like Win or rem.. IE you’ll experience higher pressure with a fast burning powder and a fast burning primer so you may need to adjust down if your near max.. It’s the little things like this that can bite you in butt..

Also you do not want to use a Mag primer with N350 when you load your 357m some manuals say sure, no worries.. Well they don't say that but they / have a mag primer referenced.. WRONG.. This is the case where you go back and review the powder recommendations for that round and see.. They do NOT recommend a mag primer.. Go with the powder recommendation and do not use mag primers in your 357m.. As a general rule we don't use mag primers with fast burning powders, just incase you didn’t know that one..


For more brain damage..
In a few years you’ll learn the advantages to using Match primers over standard primers when you’re developing a new load, as Match primers are the most sensitive of all the primers and thus providing you the reloader, with greater feedback in terms of pressure signs. Now combine that with all of the information above and you'll see / know why we, the old school guys always reference at least 7 different sources, sometimes 11 before we start on a new load..

But then again. Hhahahaaa you didn't ask about any of that so I’ll just stop here.. Hahahaa..



Hope that helps…

Link.