Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles N550 & 338-06

Justpicked up a jug of this powder and would like to use it in a 338-06,data is pretty scarce to come by,anybody care to share their info?

I used it with 210 Nosler Partions and 225 Hornadys FB.With 210 I got a great group at 60gr,but as it was raining ,I have no chrony data.The extreme spread started to open up with the 225 at 60gr or 61gr depending on the lot number.Velocity was 2620 and 2640.N-550 requires a minimium pressure for a consistant burn.G&A got 2650f/s with a strain gaged rifle,different powders though.

Nosler #5 gives 54 grs of VV N-150 as a max load w/ 200 & 210 gr bullets; 50grs w/ 250gr bullets. N-550 is supposed to be a less temp sensitve version of N-150. Claimed by VV to be the same powder with a different coating for better consistency.

Google N-150 or N-550 and find the VV web site with their reloading guide including a complete rundown of the 100 and 500 series of powders.

I would add that downwindtracker's data might not be bad data as VV data as a whole tends to be extremely conservative across the board for all calibers and in all reloading books. I have done a bit of loading with VV N-160 and 165. It tends to be identical in burn and pressure rate with R-19 and R-22 respectively, but less sensitive to temp and WAY more consistent. I have routinely gottnen 3 and 5 shot groups that varied in velocity only 10fps.

My post is bit criptic <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> isn't it.

Here's how I arrived at 60-61grs
Guns and Ammo give 2650 as a do-able with 225 using a strain gage. Hodgdon gives 2700. With the 22" tube , 2650 is what I was aiming for as a max.280Rem isn't kidding about 10f/s group spread.I lost that at 61 with 2640 and 60 with 2620.That's the difference in powder lots.So 2600 would be the powder's max pressure,it gets erratic after that.A good use for the chrony.

Ramshot's Big Game is a about that same burning rate(four grains slower than 4064 and two grains faster than 4350),while not as consistant as N-550 it more lineral at higher pressures.Still,I would suggest 60-61 grs again as max.Now I got to load some and retest it tomorrow evening.

N-550 in V.V. 308 data is a couple of grs heavier loaded than N-150.

I have had good luck with H4350 with the 225 accubond,60grs went 2625 fps and had worked up to 62 grs for 2775fps from a 24" barrel,accuaracy has been good with 3/4 to 1 1/4 groups but I have not been able to get good consistent groupswith a 200 BT or 210S Scirocco,have tried 4320,varget,RL-15 and H4350 and started to run out of room with H4350,N550 should have about the ideal burn rate to work with the 210 gr bullets,I loaded some 200BT up with a start load of 55grs and thought I should check before pulling the trigger,hopefully the weather will change for this weekend and I will get out to try them.

I'm surprised RL-15 didn't work out for you. It's been great in my .338-06. Maybe your barrel just doesn't like those bullets. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Kevin,Thats what I am beginning to think,that it just don't like the 200's,the 210 sciroccos have been a real bummer with groups of 2-3",200BT usually around 1 1/2",quite usable for hunting but am trying for 1" or better 3 shot groups <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />,by the way I just got this rifle back from Rick after he put a McMillen edge stock on it for me,gotta say Rick does nice work! Brian

I have a box of 200 grn BT's but haven't got around to trying them yet.
I'd like to get a McM someday, but for the price, I end up just getting another complete rifle. They sure do look sharp though!