Comments on: Try Vihtavuori N320 in your .45 ACP Pistol

By: Mitchell Maxberry

Mitchell Maxberry — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 04:35:47 +0000

Only got 785 fps with 6gr N320 which is only 157 pf below IPSC . These are 200 gr flat nose coper plated bullet .

By: David Driggs

David Driggs — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 17:39:40 +0000

I am now interested in comparing n320 to my favorite so far, Hodgdon hp38. The hp38 is the cleanest and most accurate I’ve used. Red Dot was a staple for a long time, and Clays is pretty nice, too. I tried Bullseye on recommendation, and it’s FILTHY! Thanks for the info on n320, if I can ever find some, I’ll try it, price aside. P.s., 6.5 gr. Hp38 scoots a 185 gr jhp along at 1143fps while being very shootable for user and firearm.I gave some to my gunsmith and he just took a buck with it. Whatever… Thanks again!

By: rr2030

rr2030 — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:02:00 +0000

Interesting article, When I burn through the last of my Bullseye I will give N320 a try. For what it’s worth; I have been using precision Bullets for the past eight or so years, flat rate shipping is included in the price. I typically order 2250 bullets and they arrive in a usps flat rate box ($8 size) weighing around 70 lbs. Precisions molly coating makes for clean loading, no messy lube to wipe off.

By: Eric Kennard

Eric Kennard — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 03:03:46 +0000

Mr. Editor, you should try the N340 also. I load thousands of rounds with the N340 using Berry clad 200 RS or SWC. I also use Space Coast Bullets hard cast 200 HG68 SWC. N340 is the most accurate I ever used. Yes the N320 is very good too. There was a shortage of N320 a couple years ago because it was so popular so I tried the N340 and I never stopped.

EDITOR: Eric, thanks for the tip. Not sure how it could improve on the N320, which loads out more accurate than I can hold. But it’s good to know N340 works great too. Eric, you should try the Precision bullets. I found them even better than the Oregon Trail LaserCast “hard cast” type, which are pretty darn good. The Precisions foul the barrel less too. But I know that shipping from Texas would add considerably to cost. Makes sense to buy local from Space Coast in Florida.

By: Frank Wigchert (The Netherlands)

Frank Wigchert (The Netherlands) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:13:06 +0000

Isn’t N320 a bit on the fast site for a 45? The European IPSC shooters use it in their .40SW but even than it is ill advised by the most reputable gunsmiths.

N340 would be the best suited powder for the 200 grain bullets and perhaps even N350 for the 230 roundball.

Editor: Frank, As you know, the .45ACP is a pretty low pressure cartridge unlike the .40sw. I think N320 is “just right” for the .45 ACP with 180 to 200gr bullets. You are correct that N340 (or even N350) might be better for the 230s if someone is seeking the max velocity. One note about the 200gr SWC bullets I use. These are made by Precision Bullets in Texas. They use a proprietary moly/polymer coating that reduces friction very effectively. Consequently they generate less pressure than naked lead (given the same powder charge weight).

FWIW, on my burn rate chart, N320 is right next to Winchester WST which is another popular powder used by bullseye shooters with bullets in the 180-200gr range.

By: Editor

Editor — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:53:37 +0000

Mike, you raised a good point about price and I agree that Titegroup is a good choice too (if you don’t mind the scorch marks). But given the fact that you need just five grains or so of N320 per .45acp cartridge, one pound of N320 will load 1400 rounds, giving a powder cost of TWO CENTs ($.02) per round. Most guys can afford that… unless they are shooting 10,000+ rounds a year.

By: Mike Toliver

Mike Toliver — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:07:56 +0000

N320 is a great powder for 45ACP, I shot a few pounds of it up. Tightgroup is 1/2 the price and available eveywhere. It would take a helva Bullseye shooter to find an accuracy diffrence.

By: Marc

Marc — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:14:40 +0000

Sorry, but as a person who tests handgun accuracy with 10 shot groups from a ransom rest at 25 meters I can only completely disregard accuracy claims based on off-hand groups at 10 yards. At least shoot from a sandbag and double both range and number of shots.

Editor: Marc, the photo was intended to show overlapping bullet hole accuracy in a mode that most people shoot — hand-held, standing, at relatively short range. During other load testing we shot rested from sandbag at 25 and 50 yards. In three 1911s we tried (my S&W, a Les Baer, and a Colt), nothing shot better than the N320, but the WW 231 was pretty equivalent. But this story was not intended to be a definitive write-up of accuracy, merely a “heads-up” that Vihtavuori produces a powder that excels in all categories by which a handgun powder can be judged, accuracy being one. I think if you check with bullseye .45 ACP shooters you’ll find that many know about N320 and N310 already, and they are using it in competition.