Would You Recommend VVn320 For An XDm 5.25 40S&W?

[szhttm]

Hello;

I will soon get into reloading ammo to make 40s&w ammo for USPSA Major Power Factor. The one piece of equipment I am still missing and will acquire soon is a chrono.

Taking the cost of the VV N320 powder out of your recommendation (I know, it's expensive when compared to other powders), would you recommend using VV N320 as the powder to use for a XDM 5.25 40s&w that is dedicated to be used in USPSA Limited competition?

The OAL of the ammo I plan to make would be 1.135. I made a few test rounds (no primers and no powder) and this length seems to run smoothly through the mags and pistol. Once I acquire the chrono, I plan to begin making test rounds starting at 4.5 grains and move up by 0.1 grains at a time until I can reach 170 power factor. I foresee that maybe 5.0 or 5.1 grains would make this expected Power Factor, but only testing will tell for sure.

The bullet planned to be used is the FMJ 180gr from Precision Delta. I might also try FMJ 180gr bullets from Montana Gold.

Thank you ahead of time for you replies, comments, suggestions, or even criticism of my data above.

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

[Marv Z]

I ran 4.8 gr of N320 at 1.135 with a MG 180 HP in my XDM 5.25 to make major. You shouldn't have to go much higher than that. I only use 5.2 gr in a STI Trojan at 1.200 and it makes major easily out of the 5" barrel.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Marv Z

[Shadyscott999]

N320 is a great powder for 40. The cost is really small when you figure it out per round. IIRC with my major loads, it was well under .01 per round difference.

Quick math.

N320 $00.0193 per round in powder

WW231 $00.0133 per round in powder

This is considering buying 4lb jugs of each at PV's current prices using my loads for 40 major. Find a powder you like and roll with it!

[szhttm]

I ran 4.8 gr of N320 at 1.135 with a MG 180 HP in my XDM 5.25 to make major. You shouldn't have to go much higher than that. I only use 5.2 gr in a STI Trojan at 1.200 and it makes major easily out of the 5" barrel.

Interesting!!! The few posts online I see of people using n320 are usually for the STI type guns with 5" barrels and they are usually at the 5.0 to 5.2gr mark. So I had made the assumption that I would need about the same powder in the XDm 5.25.

Thank you for the information!!!

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

[szhttm]

N320 is a great powder for 40. The cost is really small when you figure it out per round. IIRC with my major loads, it was well under .01 per round difference.

Quick math.

N320 $00.0193 per round in powder

WW231 $00.0133 per round in powder

This is considering buying 4lb jugs of each at PV's current prices using my loads for 40 major. Find a powder you like and roll with it!

You can't debate the math. Thank you!!!

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

[Croomrider]

I ran 4.8 gr of N320 at 1.135 with a MG 180 HP in my XDM 5.25 to make major. You shouldn't have to go much higher than that. I only use 5.2 gr in a STI Trojan at 1.200 and it makes major easily out of the 5" barrel.

Interesting!!! The few posts online I see of people using n320 are usually for the STI type guns with 5" barrels and they are usually at the 5.0 to 5.2gr mark. So I had made the assumption that I would need about the same powder in the XDm 5.25.

Most of the people loading for STI's are loading longer OAL because the magazines allow it, and it sometimes feeds better in that platform. If you load longer it can take a couple tenths more powder to achieve the same velocity. Don't use loads developed for STI's with longer OAL's when you are developing loads for a gun that requires factory max lengths. Best practice is to determine if a powder is suitable for your intended use and then start low and work up to velocities that have proven workable using a chronograph!

Mike

[Artsville]

I ran 4.8 gr of N320 at 1.135 with a MG 180 HP in my XDM 5.25 to make major. You shouldn't have to go much higher than that. I only use 5.2 gr in a STI Trojan at 1.200 and it makes major easily out of the 5" barrel.

Interesting!!! The few posts online I see of people using n320 are usually for the STI type guns with 5" barrels and they are usually at the 5.0 to 5.2gr mark. So I had made the assumption that I would need about the same powder in the XDm 5.25.

yup in my xd oal 1.133....4.7gr N320/180gr is about pf167.....out of the 4" service model and pf176 out of the 5" tactical...

[Babaganoosh]

.

[szhttm]

I ran 4.8 gr of N320 at 1.135 with a MG 180 HP in my XDM 5.25 to make major. You shouldn't have to go much higher than that. I only use 5.2 gr in a STI Trojan at 1.200 and it makes major easily out of the 5" barrel.

Interesting!!! The few posts online I see of people using n320 are usually for the STI type guns with 5" barrels and they are usually at the 5.0 to 5.2gr mark. So I had made the assumption that I would need about the same powder in the XDm 5.25.

Most of the people loading for STI's are loading longer OAL because the magazines allow it, and it sometimes feeds better in that platform. If you load longer it can take a couple tenths more powder to achieve the same velocity. Don't use loads developed for STI's with longer OAL's when you are developing loads for a gun that requires factory max lengths. Best practice is to determine if a powder is suitable for your intended use and then start low and work up to velocities that have proven workable using a chronograph!

Mike

Thank you for the great information!!!

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

[szhttm]

I ran 4.8 gr of N320 at 1.135 with a MG 180 HP in my XDM 5.25 to make major. You shouldn't have to go much higher than that. I only use 5.2 gr in a STI Trojan at 1.200 and it makes major easily out of the 5" barrel.

Interesting!!! The few posts online I see of people using n320 are usually for the STI type guns with 5" barrels and they are usually at the 5.0 to 5.2gr mark. So I had made the assumption that I would need about the same powder in the XDm 5.25.

yup in my xd oal 1.133....4.7gr N320/180gr is about pf167.....out of the 4" service model and pf176 out of the 5" tactical...

Thank you for the validation!!!

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

[Jim Snyder]

I load short for multiple platforms. My load, which makes major at 168 in a 5" STI Edge, is 4.6 gr at 1.138 COL.

[perrysho]

VV-N320 loads well in .40 S&W, meters very good, recoil is more of a push back, not muzzle jump.

One pound is 7000 grains and yields about 1400 rounds, divide that into your cost will be your cost per. round.

A good story for the wife, tell her your savings on powder will pay for the gun in about 30 years. LOL

Happy NEW YEAR,

Perry

[szhttm]

I received my new Competitive Electronics ProDigital Chronograph and was able to test my initial loads at the range yesterday. The outcome was not as expected. Using 4.6grs ~ 4.9grs of VV N320 did not acheive USPSA Major Power Factor. Basic load data and testing data is copied below:

Basic load data:

* Bullet: Precision Delta 180g FMJ

* Brass: Mixed (not new)

* Powder: VV N320

* Primer: Federal Small Pistol

* OAL: 1.133

Test #1 using 4.6grs of VV N320:

Chronograph Data 1 846

Chronograph Data 2 855

Chronograph Data 3 854

Chronograph Data 4 890

Chronograph Data 5 847

Chronograph Data 6 810

Chronograph Data 7 856

Chronograph Data 8 841

Chronograph Data 9 885

Chronograph Data 10 844

Average Chronograph Data 853

Standard Deviation 23.7

Lowest Chronograph Data 810

Highest Chronograh Reading 890

Extreame Spread 80

Power Factor 154

Test #2 using 4.7grs of VV N320:

Chronograph Data 1 840

Chronograph Data 2 844

Chronograph Data 3 877

Chronograph Data 4 855

Chronograph Data 5 816

Chronograph Data 6 873

Chronograph Data 7 874

Chronograph Data 8 862

Chronograph Data 9 849

Chronograph Data 10 812

Average Chronograph Data 850

Standard Deviation 19.7

Lowest Chronograph Data 812

Highest Chronograh Reading 877

Extreame Spread 65

Power Factor 153

Test #3 using 4.8grs of VV N320:

Chronograph Data 1 861

Chronograph Data 2 892

Chronograph Data 3 852

Chronograph Data 4 873

Chronograph Data 5 811

Chronograph Data 6 890

Chronograph Data 7 896

Chronograph Data 8 872

Chronograph Data 9 908

Chronograph Data 10 903

Average Chronograph Data 876

Standard Deviation 29.2

Lowest Chronograph Data 811

Highest Chronograh Reading 908

Extreame Spread 97

Power Factor 158

Test #4 using 4.9grs of VV N320:

Chronograph Data 1 907

Chronograph Data 2 916

Chronograph Data 3 891

Chronograph Data 4 872

Chronograph Data 5 892

Chronograph Data 6 913

Chronograph Data 7 924

Chronograph Data 8 888

Chronograph Data 9 869

Chronograph Data 10 945

Average Chronograph Data 902

Standard Deviation 19.4

Lowest Chronograph Data 869

Highest Chronograh Reading 945

Extreame Spread 76

Power Factor 162

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

Edited December 31, 2012 by szhttm

[partyboy424]

I tried 320 in my M&P 5" and it got way to snappy for me and still wasn't clearing Major with enough of a cushion. Most of the guys I know who run it load a lot longer in 2011 type of guns. I run Silhouette now at 1.145 but can load it as short as 1.125 if I want to. 6.0-6.2 grains easily makes major. 6.0 avg at 46 degrees was 950, 6.1 was 960 and 6.2 made 970. Super super soft compared to 320 in my case. 6.2 at 1.135 is considered the max charge and at 1.135 I was getting over 1,000 FPS.

[szhttm]

I tried 320 in my M&P 5" and it got way to snappy for me and still wasn't clearing Major with enough of a cushion. Most of the guys I know who run it load a lot longer in 2011 type of guns. I run Silhouette now at 1.145 but can load it as short as 1.125 if I want to. 6.0-6.2 grains easily makes major. 6.0 avg at 46 degrees was 950, 6.1 was 960 and 6.2 made 970. Super super soft compared to 320 in my case. 6.2 at 1.135 is considered the max charge and at 1.135 I was getting over 1,000 FPS.

If my next set of test rounds average to about the same as the last then I will give Silhouette a try.

Thanks!!!

Good Luck And Be Safe!!!

Edited January 1, 2013 by szhttm