Calling on all 404 reloaders, anybody have any loads to suggest using VihtaVuori powders?

Wink, I tried VV150, but I think it's a bit fast for 400gr bullets. I have some test loads w/ VV160 in the box ready to try, I just need to get to the range. My rifle likes IMR4831 & RL19 & VV160 is close to those two. I'll report later.

The bullets I will be trying out are the Barnes 400 grain banded solids and the NorthFork 380 grain cup point solids. I look forward to your range results. With 86 grains of N160 behind the Barnes 400 grain Banded Solid, Federal 215 primer, Norma brass, I get 2160fps. I would be interested to know if you can get more powder in the case and/or more velocity. I would like to achieve around 2300 to 2350fps if possible.

I'd think Vihtavuori N140 would be a better powder for the old 404 Jeffery.

I'll add a few VVs to the list of powders to try. We may all die of old age before I get around to it, though.

vapo, I think VV150 is a bit fast for rhe .404j, VV140 has got to reach higher pressure sooner, load density would be well below the 90% I like to have in rifle most carts.
Wink, thanks for that info. I'll let you know what I come up with. I am shooting 380grNF softs & 400gr Barnes banded solids.

I based my comment on the following load data for the 404 Jeffery
400 A-Square Dead-Tough SP Alliant RL-12 82.0 2,437
Remarks: OAL: 3.47 inches; near maximum
400 A-Square Lion-Load SP Accurate Arms AAC-2520 83.0 2,456
Remarks: OAL: 3.47 inches; maximum and accurate
400 A-Square Monolithic Solid Winchester W-748 88.0 2,522
Remarks: OAL: 3.47 inches; near maximum
400 Barnes SP Alliant RL-15 84.0 2,410
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches
400 Barnes Solid Alliant RL-15 83.0 2,483
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches; elephants, etc.
400 Barnes Solid IMR IMR-4350 87.0 2,378
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches; accurate, compressed
400 Hawk RN IMR IMR-3031 78.0 2,316
Remarks: OAL: 3.53 inches
400 Hawk RN IMR IMR-4895 83.0 2,412
Remarks: OAL: 3.53 inches; accurate
400 Hawk RN IMR IMR-4064 84.0 2,422
Remarks: OAL: 3.53 inches; maximum
350 Barnes spitzer Alliant RL-12 88.0 2,564
Remarks: OAL: 3.52 inches; maximum
350 Barnes spitzer Winchester W-748 91.0 2,568
Remarks: OAL: 3.52 inches; mediocre accuracy
350 Barnes spitzer Alliant RL-15 89.0 2,631
Remarks: OAL: 3.52 inches; good load
350 Hawk RN IMR IMR-3031 79.0 2,399
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches
350 Hawk RN Hodgdon H-4895 87.0 2,591
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches; compressed
350 Hawk RN IMR IMR-4064 88.0 2,595
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches; good load
350 Hawk RN Accurate Arms AAC-2520 89.0 2,602
Remarks: OAL: 3.50 inches
300 Hawk RN Hodgdon H-4895 89.0 2,729
Remarks: OAL: 3.46 inches; maximum
300 Hawk RN Alliant RL-15 91.0 2,766
Remarks: OAL: 3.46 inches; near maximum
300 Hawk RN Accurate Arms AAC-2520 89.0 2,789
Remarks: OAL: 3.46 inches

347 RWS FMJ IMR IMR-3031 81.0 2,395
347 RWS FMJ Mulwex AR-2206 81.0 2,388
347 RWS FMJ IMR IMR-4895 90.0 2,679
347 RWS FMJ Mulwex AR-2208 90.0 2,666
347 RWS SP Alliant RL-12 92.0 2,613
347 RWS SP Winchester W-748 96.0 2,581
401 RWS FMJ IMR IMR-3031 79.0 2,334
401 RWS FMJ Mulwex AR-2206 79.0 2,340
401 RWS FMJ IMR IMR-4895 86.0 2,466
401 RWS FMJ Mulwex AR-2208 86.0 2,475
401 RWS FMJ Alliant RL-12 87.0 2,444
401 RWS FMJ Winchester W-748 92.0 2,532

I was thinking that Viht 140 was a lot closer to the burn rates of these powders than the 160 you was discussing.

Fredj338, I believe you can get more powder into the case than the load I posted, I just haven't gotten around to experimenting with heavier charges.

When I load a 400 grain Barnes Banded solid in Norma brass, and crimp it at the bullet's crimping groove, my COAL is 3.512" The longest I can seat bullets in my converted Model 70 results in a COAL 3.535". Any longer and it's too long for the magazine box and it won't function propoerly. Both the the NorthForks and the Barnes bullets use up a lot of internal volume with their long for weight construction. If I can get the NorthFork up into the 2,350 to 2,400 range I would be more than happy.

Vapodog, perhaps going to much faster powders is what I need to try. Oh well, back to the store. Thanks for posting your results. I will start networking to see if can't get some samples of the powders you mention.

While we're on the Vihta subject, anybody tried the N500 series of powders?

The only load I tried w/ VV150 & the 400gr Hawk was 75gr for 2250fps. IMR4064 & RL15 are a bit faster w/ the same charge. According to A-Square manual, you are running about 45,000psi so push it harder if you like, I know RIP does.
I am happy w/ 2200-2250fps w/ a 380gr-400gr bullet. I like loads that are 98%+ load density. My converted M70 is accurate w/ most powders/bullets but really settles down w/ the 380grNF over 85gr RL19 or 84gr IMR4831 for 2250fps from my 23"bbl. w/ more groups under 1moa than over.