When I was an IPSC shooter I had quite some positive experience with reloading Vihtavuori. Now that I became a hunter, I would be interested to know your experiences with reloading these powders in the medium bore: .375 H&H and the bigger bores, like:.416 Remington Magnum, .458 Lott and .470 NE. Thank you for your input.

I use VihtaVuori powders in 308, 30-06, 6,5x55 and .416 Rem.

It is very good but probably Norma is a tad better. (And far more expensive).

In 308 N140 is brilliant up to 165 grain bullets and N150 above.
In 30-06 N150 from 165 grain bullets and down and N160 for bullets over that.
In .416 Rem N150.

I use 80 grains of N150 with 400 grain bullets and Federal Magnum primers and Rem brass.
Velocity is probably around 2400 fps.

Norma powders are not necessarily better but different, they are "double base" powders whereas Vihta products which start with a "1" are "single base", the Vihta double base rifle powders start with a "5". "Single base" powders are said to be less temperature sensitive, I don't know if this is really true.

I loaded the .375 HH for a buddy with Vihta N140 and Barnes Solids and TSX, excellent precision, the solids impact about 3 cm under the TSX he plans to use for larger distances anyway. Precision less than MOA from his Winchester pre-64.

We did reach the requested 2500 fps for both bullets, no need to go for a slower or double based powder.

Vihtavuori powders being the most economical and easiest to obtain in my area, I tend to standardize on them. They're very accurate and amazingly flexible among different calibers.

I load the following powder/caliber combinations :

N 133 : .222 Rem
N 135 : .22-250, 9,3x62
N 140 : .308 Win, 7,5x55
N 160 : .270 Win, 7x64, .30-06, .300 Win, .338 Win

quote:

Vihtavuori powders being the most economical and easiest to obtain in my area

Good for you. Nobody carries them in my area. Apparently due to cost and lack of sales. You pretty much have to order them if you want them, and if memory serves, they are available only in 2 pound containers.

LWD

Thanks for your input so far. Again I see input from users of these powders in the medium bores, like I saw mostly untill now. However I would very much like to know about the possibilities for the big bores. Any users for these calibres out there ? Thanks in anticipation.

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Creusen:
Thanks for your input so far. Again I see input from users of these powders in the medium bores, like I saw mostly untill now. However I would very much like to know about the possibilities for the big bores. Any users for these calibres out there ? Thanks in anticipation.

Vithavuori has powders for allmost anything.
Just name a caliber and I will tell witch powder to use.
You can download their loading data thing at their homepage : http://www.lapua.com/index.php?id=851

David,
I am thinking about the .375 H&H, .416 Remington Magnum and the .470 NE. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by LWD:
You pretty much have to order them if you want them, and if memory serves, they are available only in 2 pound containers.

LWD

Handgun powders always came in 500 gram containers, I just read that also the rifle ppowders are available now in this smaller size.

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Creusen:
David,
I am thinking about the .375 H&H, .416 Remington Magnum and the .470 NE. Thanks.

In 375HH N150 and N540 is superb and reloading data is in the VihtaVuori Reloading Guide on the above mentioned page.

For .416 Rem I personally use N150.

I do not have any reloading data for .470 NE but as a wild guess N150 or N160 should be suitable. Most modern reloading books of european origin have those data for you.

David,
Thanks a lot for your info. I will check the reloading guide from Vihtavuori. It seems that I can cover those cardridges with Vihta. I always noticed that these bowders burn very clean and give superb accuracy.

Vit N133 24.8 grains powder, 52grn A-max .223 Rem Tikka M595, No more Fox Problem, superb out to 300mtrs,Knocks my Benchmark powder into a cocked hat. Vit N165, My Howa 7mm WSM loves this stuff!, N160, my Sako .270Win likes it, I'm now having a work - up with H4831 for comparisons , Steve in U.K.

My dad gave me 2# for Christmas. May have to find some 7mm-08 data for it.