Reloading .303 with N150

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37patt

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As noted in the title, has anyone used Vihtavouri N150 in .303. I want to load 174 gr bullets but there is no information that I've been able to find yet.

Loads that you have used - with the usual caveats to start low - would be great or at least a high and low range as a place to start.

I've been using the powder in 308 and 30-06 and its been great.

Thanks for any information.
 
My two cents worth. Find a burn rate comparison table and look at the near-neighbours to N150. Go from there, starting cautiously. But I'd also suggest using a Chrony to figure out bullet speeds and not just groupings. Look at your 308 and 30-06 loads too for their comparisons. You might see a pattern of plus 5 grains for something vs equal amounts, etc.
 
Hey there GUB, I like their site but as I think you just saw they don't list N150 for .303. I had originally wanted to use N140 but Higginsons out this way didn't carry it so I went with what they had.

I actually quite like the N150 for the other cartridges.

Ganderite, thanks for the info. It's actually a bit higher than one other load I did manage to find which said the guy used 39.0 to 41.0 of N140/N150. For some reason he seemed to combine the two powders as the same. Have you ever used N150 for any of your loads?

I'll still have to look at comparable burn rates but it does seem that between N140 and N150, at least, the load can be about 1.5 to 2.0 grains higher for the N150

Thanks Guys - I'm actually getting closer to a load!
 
Just bumping this old thread to see if there is any new info for this particular load (303 British, Viht N150, lets say ~180gr bullets). Vihtavouri still doesn't list it on their limited list of 303 reloads on their website. But I got 2kg for a great price and looking for loads in things I fire decent amounts of to use it up with.

Any additional insight over the limited information above would be greatly appreciated!
 
DiMP said:
Just bumping this old thread to see if there is any new info for this particular load (303 British, Viht N150, lets say ~180gr bullets). Vihtavouri still doesn't list it on their limited list of 303 reloads on their website. But I got 2kg for a great price and looking for loads in things I fire decent amounts of to use it up with.

Any additional insight over the limited information above would be greatly appreciated!
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VN150 is just a tad slower than Varget, Quickload has it running below that max SAAMI pressure with a 100% load density of 46 grains and a 180 grain bullet.
HOWEVER, Quickload is not infallible , it is computer generated, so approach with caution.
Cat
 
I do not use any Vihta Vuori powder here. However, I have an older pamphlet entitled VihtaVouri Oy 4th Edition - The Burning Rate Chart on the first page shows N140 with Norma 202 just faster and Accurate 2700 just slower. For N150, it shows H414 just faster and Accurate 4350 just slower - no clue what is the amount of difference, but that chart is suggesting that N140 is a faster powder than N150 - and the only 303 British load shown in the book is 180 grain SAKO SP 131A bullet with N140 powder at 46,412PSI. As per another post I made on CGN - I am not aware of any source that shows any tested combinations that do not meet performance standards or exceed pressure standards. Chances are good that YOU will be using YOUR rifle and chamber to invent something.
 
Just adding some info to this thread. I ended up ordering Ken Waters' Pet Loads because it had a $20 off coupon on Amazon last week. After work today I decided to take a peek. Listed on the chapter "A New Look at the .303 British" there is a chart for loadings that include Vihtavuori N150. It is listed as follows in the chart:

BULLETPOWDERCHARGEVELOCITY (24" Barrel)NOTES
180gr Speer Round NoseVihtavuori N15041.0 gr2,286 fpsInsufficient Accuracy
180gr Speer Round NoseVihtavuori N15042.5 gr2,370 fpsBest all-around load; high velocity


In the write-up section on the next page, here is what it states:

Lastly, the new Vihtavuori powder N150 was tried, and what a discovery it proved to be. With 180-grain Speers, 42.5 grains of VV-N150 not only registered the highest velocities with that weight bullet, but did so without indications of excessive pressure while printing some of the smallest five-round groups from both tested rifles. Because of the outstanding performance, I've rated it as the "best all-around load." So good it is - noticeably better than the lighter 41 grain load - that I feel it should neither be reduced nor increased. It's one of those happily just-right loads.
 
I have a P-14 303, I treat it like a 308. The case volumes are the same and a P-14 is as strong as a pre-64 M-70. So you could work backwards for a Lee Enfield. Take your max velocity for the a Lee Enfield and 308 loading data then work up to that max. N150 is in this case relatively slow, so with care, safe.
 
OP, it sounds like you "don't want to work up" your own load for your rifle????

There isn't "one load" that fits all rifles.

Lots of good info in the replies.

What powder did you use for your rifle before getting N150? Likely very similar burn rate.

If your powder was faster, use your last load as a place to start, then add or take away powder until you hit a sweet spot for accuracy.
 
The rifle you use is an important factor in choosing load data.

If it's a "strong" action like the P14 or Ruger #1, you can use 308 Load date as already suggested.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
Just for S&Gs I tried Varget in my No4 with a 150gr Speer and boy does that load shoot well.

I was having trouble finding 4064 but had a decent stock of Varget, so it was easy to try.
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Seems all IMR powders are getting tough to find, but 4064 has been particularly absent as of late. Wish I hadn't created loads for all my surplus rifles using 4064 when it was everywhere to be had
 
Switch to Accurate 2520, it's readily available at most LGS and Canadian Tire.

You can transpose your IMR 4064 loads, and likely not notice any difference, with slightly lower pressures.
 
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