16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1914 Location: Central ND

Finally got the 3 powders I wanted to try. N310 for 12 ga. 1 oz. loads. The M320 for 7/8 oz. & 1 oz. loads in the 16 ga. and the 3N37 for 1 1/8 oz. loads in the 16 ga. I am sending loads to Tom Armbrust and will post the results here.

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 837

Thanks for your efforts and time!

Joined: 26 Apr 2010 Posts: 3202 Location: NCWa

I really like Vihtavuori Powder but haven't used those three yet.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1914 Location: Central ND

THe prices I got from Precision on N310 was $45. The N320 was $162. The 3N37 I bought at Scheels in Minot last fall was on sale for $108.00.

I think there was a price increase but it looks like Precision offered those prices as a special. If you look at Graf's they are quite a bit more. They want $58 for a 1 lber of N310 and $190 something for the 4 lber of N320.

Not sure what has happened to Graf's but they went from the most reasonable to unreasonable in the last couple of years.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1914 Location: Central ND

Here are 2 of the loads the I sent to Tom Armbrust. The third needs to be re-shot as the chamber pressure was well over MAP, but it will be a good load with one modification.

This first one......I can think of better powders to use for 1 oz. target loads. 21.0 grains of powder for this anemic load is a waste of time and components. Maybe in a Remington GC hull.

12 ga. Federal Gold Medal hull
Cheddite CX2000 primer
21.0 grains Vihtavuori N310
CB6100-12 wad
1 oz. lead shot

Average Velocity - 1,251 FPS
SD - 17 FPS
EV - 48 FPS

Average pressure - 6,216 PSI
SD - 365 PSI
EV - 900 PSI

This load worked out perfectly. Great Sd's on both velocity and pressure....it doesn't get much better. (I know 33 PSI over MAP. If it makes you nervous reduce it by 0.5 grain. Personally I am going to use it as is.)

16 ga. Federal hull w/paper basewad
Federal 209A primer
27.0 grains Vihtavuori 3N37
Gualandi BRG 16/21 wad (SG16)
1 1/8 oz. lead shot

Average Velocity - 1,288 FPS
SD - 7 FPS
EV - 21 FPS

Average pressure - 11,533 PSI
SD - 196 PSI
EV - 500 PSI

Thanks for all your time!
Really like the looks of that 16 load!

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1914 Location: Central ND

Me too. That will replace my 800-X load......I don't have much 800-X left.

Joined: 21 May 2024 Posts: 27 Location: Eastern Tennessee

I’d bet that 16 gauge load would be really nice around 25 to 26 grains.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1914 Location: Central ND

Charlie,

I originally used Gualandi data, Cheddite hulls, 26.0 grains 3N37, SG16 and 1 1/8 oz. of shot. I used a Winchester 209 because you can't get the Cheddite CX1000 or the Fiocchi 615, that Gualandi used in the data. The velocity was 1,150 FPS and I had no trouble taking December pheasants with the load.

When I send a load in for testing, I am looking for a maximum load, because then I know where max is and I can always drop back a bit. If I know where max is I don't ever have to send in another load. I happened to guess right for this load, but I probably won't back it off any, it's too good just the way it is.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1914 Location: Central ND

This load from above is a winner. I have been using it for pheasants. It patterns well. The ballistics are consistent. All pheasants that have met it, are sitting in my freezer. I used a slightly different version of it last fall using Cheddite hulls and it worked well. This year I went to the Federal hull, I like it better......you'll like this load too. Promise.

16 ga. Federal hull w/paper basewad
Federal 209A primer
27.0 grains Vihtavuori 3N37
Gualandi BRG 16/21 wad (SG16)
1 1/8 oz. lead shot

Average Velocity - 1,288 FPS
SD - 7 FPS
EV - 21 FPS

Average pressure - 11,533 PSI
SD - 196 PSI
EV - 500 PSI