Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Anyone Try Vihtavuori N160 in a .270??

I'm thinking of getting a couple of lbs. for my .270 & .280...was wondering if anyone here has used it.

I've been using it in my .270s for about ten years. Very consistent stuff and it meters relatively well.

Not the N160, but have tried the N560, and was really glad I did, it is my new go to for 130 Accubonds.

+1. N560 is the ticket in the 270.

CAS, I had seen a post where you liked it so I gave it a try, the rest is history.

Best powder I have tried in the four 270s I have left in the stable.

Gives me another chance to post this.

M700SS; .280Rem; 140 Nosler Solid Base; 58grs N-160; Rem Brass; WLR Primers.

3 shots at 100yds.

The .270 WCF and 4831 are a way of life in my family of hunters, and Jack O would roll over in his grave at such hypocracy!!

I still have a supply of "old army surplus" 4831, the stuff that Jack built his house on, and it will outperform any of todays modern powders by near a 100 FPS, but alas mine may be the last available batch, so I will be looking for a replacement if I stay on this side of the dirt for any length of time!

No doubt that 4831 is a go to powder in the 270. JOC knew certainly knew what he was doing.

50g of N160 in dad's Model 721 .270 Winchester shot right around 2800 fps and has a 4 group (3 shot) average of 0.784 inches.

Yes I have It shoots good but burns dirty and is heat sensitive powder. RL-19 and RL-22 are better choices..
randy..

Burns dirty?

Alliant ReLoader powders are widely known as one of the most heat/temp sensitive powders.

Burns dirty.. yep...

kyreloader your right about RL-19 as being heat sensitive. The N-160 powder is much much worse!!
randy..

I guess I was asking what burns dirty means? I havent heard anyone describe powder as burning dirty. Does that mean powder residue in the barrel, dirty cases, incomplete burning, or what? I am not arguing, just not familiar with the term.

I guess I have different experience with N160 powder with regards to temp sensitivity. I have shot in my .25-06 from 20 degrees to 90 degrees and havent chronoed any significant differences which I cant say about RL-22. Just my experience however, again not disagreeing.

Excessive powder residue in barrel..

I guess you have to do a $hitload more shooting than I do to have that affect your feelings about a powder if it works otherwise...which N160 does for me.

I disagree.

I picked up a 2 lb. container on my way home from work tonight, will give it a go tomorrow and on Wednesday.

I've never experienced a dirty burning rifle powder in the last 20 years and I've tried just about everyone. Some folks said that the Winchester ball powders were dirty, but again that hasn't been my experience.

Most of the rifle ammunition I load is for a couple of 308 rifles my friend and I shoot. Winchester 748 is a classic powder for this application. It meters well and gives very good accuracy and velocity. But rest assured that it leaves much more fouling than Varget. I haven't done any formal testing, but the appearance (and number required) of the cleaning patches tells the tale.