N550 loads for 174 / 180 gr .303

[Victory Glow]

Hi,
I use N550 with a Lapua Lockbase 150gr bullet for reloading for my 30-06. According to Vihtavuori, N540 can be used to reload 303 but not N550. Has anyone worked up a load for the 303 using N550, or is it just too slow burning to be useful? Normally I use N135 for my 303, so just wondering.
Thanks,
VG

[Alpha1]

I have only ever used N140 for my .303,s.

[ovenpaa]

N540 and N550 are double base powders and not something I would consider for an ageing .303 so as above, N140 is my preferred choice with the 174SMK for the 303.

[WelshShooter]

The N5xx series of Viht powders are double base and quite energetic so I wouldn't reccomend using it with milsurp rifles if you want to prevent throat erosion etc.

That being said, I found Reload Swiss RS60 to work well with 180gr S&B bullets (if you check the burn rate chart on Reload Swiss website you'll see it's similar to N550) until I realised that that too was a double base powder. Now I stick with N140 and 180gr S&B bullets and achieve fantastic results. 38.5gr with new cases or 39.7gr with fired cases which have been shoulder bumped. Haven't loaded 174gr in years.

Note: your mileage may vary, even though the above load is "in spec" always work with published load data.

[ovenpaa]

I preferred RS50 or as was TR140 for .303 when shooting my 4(T) out to 1000 yards. Recently I have been using Varget and H-4895 with OK results. The .303 always seems to be more velocity sensitive than powder sensitive to me.

[WelshShooter]

Yeah I tried TR140 and RS50 eventually when it came out but I didn't really get on with it. Probably due to the poor 174gr ppu bullets I was using at the time. That reminds me, I have a couple of boxes of SMK's I never got around to trying. As I understand, RS50 is essentially an "improved" N140 since they use the same recipe with some minor changes (if I recall from an old thread from Laurie).

Do you see any noticeable improvement using this powder over N140? One improvement I see is cleaning of cases in tumbler, the viht powder comes off easily whereas the Reload Swiss kinda bakes on the outside case necks and requires IPA/meth spirits on a cloth to physically remove it. I don't like putting dirty cases through my sizing dies.

[ovenpaa]

Yes, the RS/TR is a bit dirtier, I invariably load low unless it is for longer distances, so around 39.9 through to 40.3 dependant on which rifle with TR140, which always seemed a tad slower than N140. I did like TR140. Varget and 4895 both work well as an alternative. Having said that, I heard of Varget being advertised for £75.00 a tub (1lb) start of this year. Being non REACH compliant it is never going to come back in so existing stock must be thin on the ground. Luckily I have a bit as I also use it in my 22-250

Most recently I have been reloading with 180 Spitzer's I picked up some ages ago and found two bags on a shelf above my desk.

[snayperskaya]

Anyone use Ramshot Big Game and/or Alliant RL-15 for .303?.

[ovenpaa]

Not here.

[Alpha1]

No I have only ever used 41 grains of N140 with a flat based bullet. It just works.