Is VVN340 worth it?

[TexasJackKin]

Every one talks about how clean Vihtavuori powders burn, but I have found when trying to load light loads for my wife's 9MM, it leaves her gun quite "sooty". It could be I'm below the clean burning pressure threshold. I bought a 4 pound jug, when pistol powders were hard to find, and I'm not all that happy with it.

[rsrocket1]

Even clean powders burn "sooty" if loaded at too low pressures. Clean for some means that even at low pressures, there are not a lot of unburned flakes (unlike Unique, Red Dot, Bullseye). Clays is a clean burning powder that leaves no flakes even when way under pressured. You are most likely below the 10,000 psi range if you are getting sooty residue with VV powders. Bump up the charge and you will see it clean up. Unfortunately that means more recoil for your wife's 9mm.


Frankly I myself can't see how a 9mm would have too much recoil.

[meaty-btz]

Every one talks about how clean Vihtavuori powders burn, but I have found when trying to load light loads for my wife's 9MM, it leaves her gun quite "sooty". It could be I'm below the clean burning pressure threshold. I bought a 4 pound jug, when pistol powders were hard to find, and I'm not all that happy with it.

Which powder version did you get?

[Eljay]

I'm sort of curious about the load. A lot of the USPSA guys run 3.3-3.5gr of N320 in 9mm which isn't exactly stout and that runs quite clean.

[Sunday]

VV powders are really nice but I buy Bullseye or 231. That way I can shoot more for less.

[RugerNo1]

I love VV powders for my USPSA loads.

4.0 grains with 200 ltc for .40
3.7 grains with 135 fp for 9mm

[mjmagee67]

I'm sort of curious about the load. A lot of the USPSA guys run 3.3-3.5gr of N320 in 9mm which isn't exactly stout and that runs quite clean.

You must be talking about a 147gr bullet.

For a 9mm 124gr coated bullet I run 3.9gr, jacketed 4.1gr both N320.

For 40S&W 180gr coated I run 4.8gr, jacketed 5.0gr both N320.

Power Factor in 130-132 for 9mm and 169-172 for 40S&W.

YMMV

[TexasJackKin]

Every one talks about how clean Vihtavuori powders burn, but I have found when trying to load light loads for my wife's 9MM, it leaves her gun quite "sooty". It could be I'm below the clean burning pressure threshold. I bought a 4 pound jug, when pistol powders were hard, to find, and I'm not all that happy with it.

I'm sort of curious about the load. A lot of the USPSA guys run 3.3-3.5gr of N320 in 9mm which isn't exactly stout and that runs quite clean.

Sorry, I guess I didn't provide as much information as I could have. I got a 4 pound jug of VV 340 (not because I thought it would be the best powder, but because it was the only powder I could find, at the time) the load was 5.0 grains over 115 grain extreme plated bullet, CCI SPP COL 1.110.

I shoot clays in my .40 S&W Glock, and after 5 or 600 rounds, decided to clean it, took it apart looked at it (pulled a snake though the barrel) and put it back together, it didn't need cleaning! (very light loads) But I can't find a load for the wife's 9MM (with clays) that her Glock seems to like. And like I said, I 've been disappointed with VV 340, but will try a Heavener charge and see if that cleans it up.

OP, Sorry, I'm not trying to hijack your thread

[meaty-btz]

Not at all mate, both positive and negative reviews are critical to making an informed decision.

If you were closer I'd ask to buy some of that powder off you so that I could test a small batch before throwing down on it. Especially since you are using the VV340, which is what I would be using and others here are reporting using vv320 and the xnxx series of powders which may or may not be "better" than the 340.

Sorry, I guess I didn't provide as much information as I could have. I got a 4 pound jug of VV 340 (not because I thought it would be the best powder, but because it was the only powder I could find, at the time) the load was 5.0 grains over 115 grain extreme plated bullet, CCI SPP COL 1.110.

I shoot clays in my .40 S&W Glock, and after 5 or 600 rounds, decided to clean it, took it apart looked at it (pulled a snake though the barrel) and put it back together, it didn't need cleaning! (very light loads) But I can't find a load for the wife's 9MM (with clays) that her Glock seems to like. And like I said, I 've been disappointed with VV 340, but will try a Heavener charge and see if that cleans it up.

OP, Sorry, I'm not trying to hijack your thread

[Eljay]

You must be talking about a 147gr bullet.

Yep!

[Eljay]

If you were closer I'd ask to buy some of that powder off you so that I could test a small batch before throwing down on it. Especially since you are using the VV340, which is what I would be using and others here are reporting using vv320 and the xnxx series of powders which may or may not be "better" than the 340.

I think it really just depends on your caliber mix. I gather if you're shooting .45 the N340 isn't very popular, at least with the lighter competition loads, although I'm sure there's somebody out there who loves it.

The xnxx powders seem mostly to be for people shooting oddball stuff like major 9 (high power 9mm rounds).