boatymcboatface on Nostr: This post is about VihtaVuori N555 but first, It’s odd to inadvertently find ...
This post is about VihtaVuori N555 but first, It’s odd to inadvertently find yourself as the top contributor to #reloading and #handloading. I hope I get other folks stoked on what they are doing to share their own progress and projects. What are y’all up to? What’s working? What’s cool? What sucks?
Ok. N555. My experience is still pretty limited but what I have so far, I like. I have had strings with extreme spreads (ES) in muzzle velocity (MV) of 5 feet per second! They were only 5 round strings during powder-charge testing but I’ve never had anything that low before. The load I’m using I have a 9-round string with 27.5 ES and 9.8 standard deviation (SD). That’s using an unremarkable, uncalibrated, beam balance. It’s not amazing but it’s plenty good for what I need. I’m hoping this next batch will be a little more consistent since I’m resizing the brass to be less loose in the chamber. I’m still full length sizing but I’m bumping shoulders back about 0.002” less than I did the last round. This could improve ignition consistency and I’m told by people with significant experience and impressive results that ignition consistency has a big impact on SDs and group size.
Back to N555.
The story is VihtaVuori developed N555 specifically for the 6.5 Creedmoor, what I’m shooting, and I’ve seen it picked up by multiple competitive (i.e. they often win) F-class shooters. What appealed to me about N555 mainly was its reputation for temperature insensitivity. I’m developing the load in moderate temperatures but expect to be using it in temps from 10-15° F. I don’t know how much that would impact a powder like IMR 4064 but I don’t want doubts running through my head while I’m taking a shot. I actually need the meat I’m hunting for.
VV says N555 has anti-fouling ingredients. I’ve not really pressed this with a high round count but the cleanup I’ve done after a range session has been noticeably faster than any of the previous loads I’ve used, both factory and my own.
Historically VihtaVuori powders have been a little more expensive and I was going to list cost as a downside but I just priced N555 against IMR 4064 and Reloader 16 and N555 is meaningfully less expensive!
The weird and unexpected thing about N555 is the cloud of smoke it produces. It’s definitely less than blackpowder but an old-timer at the range was wondering if it might be.
So, I’m very happy with N555 so far. I plan on buying it in 8 pound jugs. Not only do I save about 10% but that’s over 1,200 rounds from one lot number so I’m not wasting components and time verifying the safety and precision of a new lot of powder.
Do you have experience with N555 or other good powders for 6.5 Creedmoor?
#handloading #reloading #powder #N555 #grownostr #plebchain
Ok. N555. My experience is still pretty limited but what I have so far, I like. I have had strings with extreme spreads (ES) in muzzle velocity (MV) of 5 feet per second! They were only 5 round strings during powder-charge testing but I’ve never had anything that low before. The load I’m using I have a 9-round string with 27.5 ES and 9.8 standard deviation (SD). That’s using an unremarkable, uncalibrated, beam balance. It’s not amazing but it’s plenty good for what I need. I’m hoping this next batch will be a little more consistent since I’m resizing the brass to be less loose in the chamber. I’m still full length sizing but I’m bumping shoulders back about 0.002” less than I did the last round. This could improve ignition consistency and I’m told by people with significant experience and impressive results that ignition consistency has a big impact on SDs and group size.
Back to N555.
The story is VihtaVuori developed N555 specifically for the 6.5 Creedmoor, what I’m shooting, and I’ve seen it picked up by multiple competitive (i.e. they often win) F-class shooters. What appealed to me about N555 mainly was its reputation for temperature insensitivity. I’m developing the load in moderate temperatures but expect to be using it in temps from 10-15° F. I don’t know how much that would impact a powder like IMR 4064 but I don’t want doubts running through my head while I’m taking a shot. I actually need the meat I’m hunting for.
VV says N555 has anti-fouling ingredients. I’ve not really pressed this with a high round count but the cleanup I’ve done after a range session has been noticeably faster than any of the previous loads I’ve used, both factory and my own.
Historically VihtaVuori powders have been a little more expensive and I was going to list cost as a downside but I just priced N555 against IMR 4064 and Reloader 16 and N555 is meaningfully less expensive!
The weird and unexpected thing about N555 is the cloud of smoke it produces. It’s definitely less than blackpowder but an old-timer at the range was wondering if it might be.
So, I’m very happy with N555 so far. I plan on buying it in 8 pound jugs. Not only do I save about 10% but that’s over 1,200 rounds from one lot number so I’m not wasting components and time verifying the safety and precision of a new lot of powder.
Do you have experience with N555 or other good powders for 6.5 Creedmoor?
#handloading #reloading #powder #N555 #grownostr #plebchain