VihtaVuori 3N38 And .40S&W, Load Data Suggestions Needed!

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Armed_Chicagoan

New member
So as most of you are probably painfully aware pistol powders are nearly impossible to find now. Unable to find my tried and true such as Unique, Power Pistol, HS-6 and WSF I bought the first pistol powder I've found in months - a 4lb jug of VV 3N38.

Unfortunately load data for this powder is nearly nonexistent, especially for the bullets I have on hand.

So does anyone here have experience with this powder for 155, 165, and 180gr Berry's FP or Speer 180gr TMJ for .40S&W? I realize this is considered a hot powder, but I'm not necessarily looking for hot loads but if that's what works best with this powder I'll load hot.

VV lists 9.6-9.8 gr for 165gr PMC TC-FMJ and 6.9-7.3gr for 200gr Speer TMJ. Don't know how that extrapolates to what I have, and the narrow range concerns me!

Gun is a Beretta PX4 Compact (3.2" barrel) if that matters.
 
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iraiam

New member
VV Reloading guides #6 and #9 and up list 3N38 for 2 40 S&W loads. The manuals list 3n38 as a high performance powder for competitive shooting, there isn't a whole lot of range between the start load and max in any of the listed recipes. I would advise against substituting bullets with this powder.

165 grain TC-FMJ (PMC)
200 grain TMJ (Speer)

I personally use 3N38 for only one specific 9mm load listed in the VV manuals, the Hornady 147 grain HP/XTP, the recipe has proven itself to me, but I do not deviate from it.
 
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Armed_Chicagoan

New member
Found some data published by Sierra, it is as follows:

165gr JHP 7.4-8.4grs 1.125" COL

180gr JHP 7.0-8.2grs 1.125" COL

190gr FPJ Match 6.9-8.1grs 1.125" COL

That's much less powder for the 165gr than VV lists for the PMC FMJ 165gr bullet, I guess because the HP are longer. Also much wider range than VV lists.
 
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ForneyRider

New member
I can't believe you can find 3n38 and not the others. Have been in search of 3n38 for a year. Can find Alliant, AA, Win and other pistol powders from time to time.
 
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Armed_Chicagoan

New member
ForneyRider, I'd gladly make a trade with you if you weren't 900 miles away.

Found it at Powder Valley about 2 weeks ago. Would much rather have some HS-6 or WSF!

Only upside to this shortage is I'm forced to try new powders I guess.
 
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