Question: VV N320 vs. Titegroup

A

aridan

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Ever since I got 4lb of N320 at the obscene price of $48/lb, I've been wondering: why do people praise its clean-burning, recoil-reducing, blah blah blah qualities?

OK, I readily admit I'm new to reloading (about 6-7months), but I compared my Titegroup loads to those N320 loads, and I see no difference. :confused: Since I'm only using N320 in my 9mm loads, so a Canadian Bdx 120gr with 3.8gr of either powder - same soot in spent brass, same group sizes at 5-15yards, and same recoil. Going with Zero 147gr JHP and 3.5gr of either powder - same thing. The only difference: Titegroup is $21/lb, not $48.

What gives? Am I loading too light to see the difference?

FWIW, I have no plans to switch from Titegroup in my .40S&W loads, and I'm going to try Clays in .45ACP - which I'm about to start reloading.
 
Where in the heck did you score VV powder for that price? I think you will notice the cleaner burning when firing hundreds of rounds at a time. I have no experience with Titegroup.
 
different guns react differently to different powders. what is your velocity for both powders? are they the same when run over a chronograph.

$48 a pound is obscene. i regularly land powder in Alberta for $75 a kilo (about $34 a pound.)
 
saskcop said:
Where in the heck did you score VV powder for that price? I think you will notice the cleaner burning when firing hundreds of rounds at a time. I have no experience with Titegroup.
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Don't ask... Ordered first, found out the price 2months later when the powder was readily available elsewhere for less, but not much less.

I shoot a minimum of 200 9mm rounds each time, and sometimes go 500-600 rounds between cleaning if I shoot more than once a week. Like I said, didn't notice any difference.

Walter Hornby said:
different guns react differently to different powders. what is your velocity for both powders? are they the same when run over a chronograph.
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I don't have a chrono yet. FWIW, the felt recoil is about the same.
 
Cheap beats clean for me. My pistols typically have several hundred rounds fired through them between cleanings and I have yet to find any powder that is dirty enough to tie up any of them with fouling in that interval.

Titegroup is my powder of choice for non-magnum pistol reloading when I can find it. It is inexpensive, requires comparatively small charges, and shoots well in my guns.
 
The lower you go with your loading of titegroup, the dirtier it gets.
3.2-3.4 range with a 147 grain bullet in 9mm or 180 grain .40 with 3.7 and it gets pretty filthy.
500-600 rounds between cleaning is a pretty low round count in my opinion.

If Titegroup is burning clean for you I'd say there is no really good reason to switch to VV.
 
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I've also found that Titegroup burns hotter the N320. I've loaded both for .38 Spl and after a long stage my S&W Model 65 revolver is almost too hot to handle with Titegroup loads; not so much with N320 loads.
 
Aqualung said:
I've also found that Titegroup burns hotter the N320. I've loaded both for .38 Spl and after a long stage my S&W Model 65 revolver is almost too hot to handle with Titegroup loads; not so much with N320 loads.
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Yeah, I've noted that too with loads on my 625. As a lefty, I have my right thumb on the forcing cone during a reload - the N340 helps to keep it running cooler.
 
I perform a strong side reload. As I'm a lefty, my left hand engages the cylinder release and transitions the revolver to my right hand.
I slide my right thumb through the cylinder void while opening and keeping the cylinder open with my thumb, while the remainder of the right hand is cupping the underside of the gun.
I then recharge the cylinder with a moon clip of ammo from ammo pouches next to the holster with my left hand.
My right knuckle is invariably right up against the forcing cone during reloads.
 
It seems Solo 1000 and Clays are all the hipe lately in USA (for 9mm) ...
I'm working on Clays' load for 9mm right now. NOT Universal Clays.
 
All depends how many rounds are you putting through the pipe.
The idea is to lower to costs.
If you loading for rifles is a diff story, you need to find best combination, for pistol nr 1 is safety, nr 2 is reliability.

Good Luck
 
beltfed said:
I perform a strong side reload. As I'm a lefty, my left hand engages the cylinder release and transitions the revolver to my right hand.
I slide my right thumb through the cylinder void while opening and keeping the cylinder open with my thumb, while the remainder of the right hand is cupping the underside of the gun.
I then recharge the cylinder with a moon clip of ammo from ammo pouches next to the holster with my left hand.
My right knuckle is invariably right up against the forcing cone during reloads.
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LOL I was thinking 'reload' as in 'ammo reloading' not changing clips/mags. Shows how little I know about revolvers. Thank you.
 
CeeZer said:
It seems Solo 1000 and Clays are all the hipe lately in USA (for 9mm) ...
I'm working on Clays' load for 9mm right now. NOT Universal Clays.
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I still have a couple of pounds of N320, and a couple of Titegroup, but I will start loading .45ACP using Clays. Tried LeBaron in Mississauga but they were out of Clays. Please post your results if you discover a good load for 9mm - I assume its for the Shadow, right?

I hear a bit here & there about the Solo 1000 but haven't looked into it yet.

Just ordered a chrono from Grafs, this will help to take some of the guesswork out.
 
Why not Vv N320 in 45 ACP? I use it under a 185 gr JSWC and love it.

I switched from HS-6 and W231 to the Vv line. Vv is clean and consistent, more so than the other brands. You can #### around with pricing all you want but for pistols where you get 1200 to 1500 rds per lb it just ain't that big a deal. You'll save more significantly by buying larger quantities and saving on shipping charges for "hazardous" materials than you will by compromising on the product.

Anyhow, sorry for product cheerleading. Use whatever powder you like the best and,IMHO, if that happens to be Vv N320, I completely understand your satisfaction with it.
 
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