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December 26th, 2017

Vihtavuori Rolls Out Major Reloading Data Update

VV Vihtavuori finland powder propellant reloading recipe data information mobile app

VV Vihtavuori finland powder propellant reloading recipe data information mobile appVihtavuori offers free reloading data online, and through a free Mobile App. And now those resources are even better — Vihtavuori has completed a significant enhancement of its reloading information for hand-loaders. First, the Finnish powder company has added the new N565 powder to the data tables. But that’s just for starters.

A massive update has been completed with new bullets added for dozens of popular calibers: “We are happy to announce the addition of more than 130 lines of reloading data, with bullets by Barnes, Brenneke, Lapua, Berger, Sierra, Woodleigh, Hornady, Nosler and LOS”. The updated online information supplements the online Reloading Databases, which has dedicated sections for Rifle Cartridges, Pistol Cartridges, and Cowboy Action.


Rifle DATA | Pistol DATA| Mobile APP



POWDER MAKING: This video shows how Vihtavuori powder is produced:

NEW Cartridges Added

Vihtavuori’s latest December 2017 Load Data update includes information for these new cartridge types and bullet types:

.300 Norma Mag:
– Lapua 185grs / 12.0g
– Berger 215grs / 13.9g
– Lapua 220grs / 14.3g
– Berger 230grs / 14.9g

8x68S:
– Sierra 150grs / 9.7g
– Lapua 180grs / 11.7g
– Nosler 180grs / 11.7g
– Nosler 200grs / 13.0g

EXPANDED DATA for Many Cartridges

With its December 2017 load information update, Vihtavuori now offers data for the following chamberings and bullet weights:

7x57R:
– Barnes 150grs / 9.7g
– Brenneke 150grs / 9.7g
– Lapua 150grs / 9.7g
– Lapua 160grs /10.4g
– Barnes 174grs / 11.3g

7×64:
– Swift 140grs / 9.1g
– Barnes 150grs / 9.7g
– Sierra 174grs / 11.3g
– Brenneke 177grs / 11.5g
– Lapua 181grs / 11.7g

7 mm Rem Mag:
– Berger 180grs / 12.6g
– Berger 194grs / 12.6g

.308 Winchester:
– LOS 140grs / 9.1g
– Hornady 150grs / 9.9g
– LOS 150grs / 9.9g
– Woodleigh 150grs / 9.9g
– Berger 155grs / 10.0g
– LOS 155grs / 10.0g
– Sierra 155grs / 10.0g
– Hornady 165grs / 10.7g

.30-06 Springfield:
– Sierra 168grs / 10.9g
– Berger 185grs / 12.0g
– Woodleigh 240grs / 15.6g

8x57IS:
– Sierra 201grs / 13.0g

.338 Lapua Mag:
– Berger 250grs / 16.2g
– Lapua 250grs / 16.2g
– Barnes 280grs / 18.1g
– Berger 300grs / 19.4g

.300 Win Mag:
– Hornady 165grs / 10.7g
– Sierra 168grs / 10.9g
– Berger 200grs / 13.0g
– Barnes 200grs / 13.0g
– Woodleigh 200grs / 13.0g
– Berger 215grs / 13.9g
– Berger 230grs / 14.9g

.38 Special:
– H&N 157grs / 10.2g

9 mm Luger:
– H&N 145grs / 9.4g

Vihtavuori story tip by EdLongrange. We welcome reader submissions.
Permalink Bullets, Brass, Ammo, News, Reloading 1 Comment »
December 26th, 2017

Get FREE 2018 SHOT Show Mobile App

SHOT Show 2018 Mobile App iOS Apple Android smartphone iphone

Headed to SHOT Show in Las Vegas next month? Then you should download the FREE SHOT Show Mobile App. Available for all mobile devices, this App really makes it easier to plan your SHOT Show schedule, and navigate the floor of the Sands Convention Center. The 2018 SHOT Show Mobile App is now available for download on Apple, Android, and Windows smartphones and devices. Apple users will find the app in the App Store, Android users will find their version in the Google Play Store. Windows users can access via the WEB Dashboard. Learn more at SHOTmobile.com.

Visit SHOTmobile.com | GET FREE Apple (iOS) App | GET FREE Android OS App

SHOT Show 2018 Mobile App iOS Apple Android smartphone iphone

Handy Interactive Map
The App includes an interactive map that can direct you from your current location to your next destination. Arrange your meetings with a handy scheduling calendar. And you can search for any SHOT exhibitor by name or product category. In addition, the App lists major show events as well as important new products.

SHOT Show 2018 App Mobile iPhone Android

GREAT APP FEATURES
— Locate Exhibitor Booths with searchable Vendor Database/Floor Map
— Build a personalized Schedule and bookmark Exhibitors
— Visit bookmarked Exhibitors with Quick Route Feature
— Multi-Device Sync for smartphones, tablets, laptops — all your devices
— Up-to-the-minute Exhibitor, Speaker, and Event information

The Free SHOT Show App lets you do some very cool things with your smartphone. You can contact exhibitors directly through the App to request appointments or callbacks. You can take notes while visiting a vendor’s booth or attending a seminar. Of course you can schedule your agenda, and see an entire day’s events in a glance. But perhaps the best function of all is the “Quick Route”. This allows you to create the most efficient point-to-point route from one booth location to another.

Permalink News, Tech Tip No Comments »
December 26th, 2017

Hand-Loading for Semi-Auto Service Rifles — Six Key Rules

Reloading for Service Rifles
SFC Lance Dement as featured in CMP’s First Shot Online.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has published a great series of reloading “how-to” articles on its Facebook Page. This post covers key factors to consider when loading ammunition for Match Rifles and Service Rifles, with a particular focus on self-loading “gas guns”. Visit the USAMU Facebook Page each Wednesday for other, helpful “Handloading Hump-Day” tips.

We offer some “cardinal rules” to help new gas-gun handloaders with safety and efficiency. These address both Match Rifle and Service Rifle versions of the AR15, M1 Garand, M1A, and M110. However, they can also improve safe reloading for many other auto-loaders such as M1 Carbines, FALs, SIGs, etc. The author distilled these principles many years ago to help focus on the essential aspects of these rifles.

RULE ONE: Service Rifles Are Not Benchrest Rifles
Gas-guns require a relatively loose fit between ammunition and chamber (vs. bolt actions) for safe, smooth operation. Many techniques, such as neck sizing and keeping cartridge headspace quite tight, are popular in the extreme bolt gun accuracy realm. However, they are of little value with Service Rifles, and some could even be hazardous. Before adopting a specialized technique, seriously consider whether it is appropriate and beneficial in a gas-gun.

RULE TWO: Never Compromise Safety to Obtain Accuracy
Example: If choosing a brand of great, but ultra-sensitive match primers offers possibly better accuracy at the risk of slam-fires in your design of rifle, don’t do it! You are issued exactly two eyes and ten fingers (best-case scenario). Risking them trying to squeeze 0.25 MOA better accuracy out of an M1A, etc. simply isn’t worth it.

Reloading for Service Rifles

RULE THREE: Tailor the Precision to Your Individual Skill and Your Rifle’s Potential
This has been addressed here before, but bears repeating for newcomers. If you are struggling to break out of the Marksman Class, or using a CMP M1 “As-Issued,” then laboriously turning the necks of your 600-yard brass is a waste of time. Your scores will improve much faster by practicing or dry-firing. On the other hand, if the reigning champions anxiously check your scores each time you fire an event, a little neck-turning might not be so far-fetched.

Verifying Load Improvements — Accuracy hand-loading involves a wide variety of techniques, ranging from basic to rather precise. Carefully select those which offer a good return on investment for your time and labor. In doubt? Do a classic pilot study. Prepare ammo for at least three or four ten-shot groups with your new technique, vs. the same with your standard ammo. Then, pick a calm day and test the ammo as carefully as possible at its full distance (e.g. 200, 300, or 600 yards) to verify a significant improvement. A little testing can save much labor!

RULE FOUR: Be Your Own Efficiency Expert
Serious Service Rifle shooters generally think of ammunition in terms of thousands of rounds, not “boxes”, or even “hundreds”. Analyze, and WRITE DOWN each step in your reloading process. Count the number of times each case is handled. Then, see if any operations can be dropped or changed without reducing safety or accuracy. Eliminating just two operations saves 2000 steps per 1000 rounds loaded. Conversely, carefully consider any measurable benefits before adding a step to your routine.

RULE FIVE: In Searching for Greater Accuracy with Efficiency, Look for System Changes
For example, instead of marking your 300-yard rounds individually to differentiate them from your 200-yard ammo, would a simple change in primers work? If accuracy is maintained, using brass-colored primers for 200 and silver for 300 provides an indelible indicator and eliminates a step! Similarly, rather than spending hours selecting GI surplus brass for weight and neck uniformity, consider splurging on some known, high-quality imported match brass for your 600-yard loads. Results should be excellent, time is saved, and given limited shooting at 600 yards, brass life should be long.

RULE SIX: Check All Your Primers Before Packaging Your Loaded Ammo
This seems simple and even intuitive. However, many slam-fires (which were much more common when M1s and M1As were the standard) are due, at least in part, to “high” primers. Primers should be seated below flush with the case head. The USAMU has addressed this at length in a previous column, but each round should be checked for properly-seated primers before they are packaged for use.

Reloading for Service Rifles

Permalink Competition, Reloading 3 Comments »