N140?
- Thread starter TrxR
- Start date
rnbra-shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Brunswick
I recently started using N140 for my .308, because I was able to buy some and was not able to buy the H4895 or Varget that I've been using for the past ten years or so.
Here's what I loaded:
- Lapua brass
- Federal 210 primer
- 45.5 N140 (carefully thrown charge with Redding BR-30 measure, but charges not individually weighed nor trickled).
- Berger 155.5 Fullbore bullets, seated to 2.910" COAL (which is 20 or 30 thou off the rifling in my chamber)
It shoots quite well. I haven't gotten around to chronographing it yet but it is performing very similarly to my previous loading of 44.5 H4895 (everything else the same as above). Both loads need the same amount of elevation to hit the target at 900m, so they must be coming out of the muzzle within 50fps of each other. Both loads are able to shoot about 1 MOA of elevation at 900m (sometimes even better than that), so the ES/SD is good enough.
I recently used it at our provincial championship match 6-7 July, which was a very hot day, about 35C plus strong sun; I didn't have any pressure problems, so it's not an on-the-verge-of-too-hot sort of a load.
If I get a chance to chrono it or if I get a chance to shoot some in the evening at 900m or 1000m at my local range, I might consider tweaking the load a bit; I either need to confirm that the long distance vertical spread for is smaller than my ability to shoot my rifle (for 20, 30 or 40 or however many shots I am able to fire well) , or tweak it in order to make it so. In a month's time I'll shoot our national matches and I'll be taking about 500 rounds of this load (or tweaked version) with me to Ottawa. But if I had to leave tomorrow for Ottawa with this loading, I would be happy to do so, knowing that my ammo is good enough for me to win with.
Here's what I loaded:
- Lapua brass
- Federal 210 primer
- 45.5 N140 (carefully thrown charge with Redding BR-30 measure, but charges not individually weighed nor trickled).
- Berger 155.5 Fullbore bullets, seated to 2.910" COAL (which is 20 or 30 thou off the rifling in my chamber)
It shoots quite well. I haven't gotten around to chronographing it yet but it is performing very similarly to my previous loading of 44.5 H4895 (everything else the same as above). Both loads need the same amount of elevation to hit the target at 900m, so they must be coming out of the muzzle within 50fps of each other. Both loads are able to shoot about 1 MOA of elevation at 900m (sometimes even better than that), so the ES/SD is good enough.
I recently used it at our provincial championship match 6-7 July, which was a very hot day, about 35C plus strong sun; I didn't have any pressure problems, so it's not an on-the-verge-of-too-hot sort of a load.
If I get a chance to chrono it or if I get a chance to shoot some in the evening at 900m or 1000m at my local range, I might consider tweaking the load a bit; I either need to confirm that the long distance vertical spread for is smaller than my ability to shoot my rifle (for 20, 30 or 40 or however many shots I am able to fire well) , or tweak it in order to make it so. In a month's time I'll shoot our national matches and I'll be taking about 500 rounds of this load (or tweaked version) with me to Ottawa. But if I had to leave tomorrow for Ottawa with this loading, I would be happy to do so, knowing that my ammo is good enough for me to win with.
I'm using for my 175gr Berger VLDs. In Lapua brass with CCI BR2s, I get 2800fps from 43.2gr with no pressure signs. I think I found my node at 42.9gr last night, ES was 12fps. OAL at the ogive 2.222", jammed .010"
I've noticed it burns very cleanly, minimal residue in my barrel. Trickles nicely too. Can't speak to temp sensitivity.
I've noticed it burns very cleanly, minimal residue in my barrel. Trickles nicely too. Can't speak to temp sensitivity.
Hi Daniel:
Great minds
Looking at switching to N140 w/Lapua brass and 155g Lapua Silver Jacket Scenars for .308 Win myself going into the future.
One of my motivating factors is that N140 availability in Halifax is now much better than Varget.
My initial testing with 45.5g and LOA 2.855 was a max loading, will try dropping it just a tiny bit.
Small sample size chrono was 2843 ft/sec in my 24" Rock Creek barrel. My velocity goal is above 2800 ft/sec.
Great minds
Looking at switching to N140 w/Lapua brass and 155g Lapua Silver Jacket Scenars for .308 Win myself going into the future.
One of my motivating factors is that N140 availability in Halifax is now much better than Varget.
My initial testing with 45.5g and LOA 2.855 was a max loading, will try dropping it just a tiny bit.
Small sample size chrono was 2843 ft/sec in my 24" Rock Creek barrel. My velocity goal is above 2800 ft/sec.
N140 has been my go-to powder for the 220 Swift for some time now.
Excellent performance & very clean.
N150 I use a lot in the 8x57....best powder to date for the 180 and 200 grain bullets. [N560 also works well]
Regards, Eagleye.
Excellent performance & very clean.
N150 I use a lot in the 8x57....best powder to date for the 180 and 200 grain bullets. [N560 also works well]
Regards, Eagleye.
Is there a suggestion that would do for 7,62 x 54, 303 and 8 x 57? There is a dealer in Nova Scotia near me and I was thinking of getting some Vihtavuori powder I am using 150 grain hornday in the 303 and 7.62 x 54 and 170 grain prvi in the mauser. Right now i am using 4064. Thanks
For whatever it's worth, the Canadian Palma Team .308 load uses N150 with a Berger 155.5 and just under 3,000 fps out of a 30-inch Krieger barrel. Bob Pitcairn and Dave Adams experimented with everything before settling on that load combination. From everything I've heard, N140 and N150 are truly awesome powders and are every bit as good, and likely better, than Varget, for similar applications. They're just more expensive.
If you can afford them, you can't go wrong.
If you can afford them, you can't go wrong.
Longshot338
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Ontario
I have used it in my 308 and 303. While it gives me very mediocre results in my 308, my 303 loves it. I have found Varget to be more stable with temp change, however N140 isn't too bad. Hodgdon lists an 8fps difference in velocity over a given temperature range, while they list 50fps for the N140.
Alec
