16ga.com ~ View topic - Vihtavuori 3N37

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I happened to walk into the Scheel's in Minot and they have 4.4 lb. jugs of Vihtavuori 3N37 for $109.99. I grabbed one, and there are still a few jugs left.

I know that this powder isn't all that popular and that Minot is a bit out of the way for most folks, but it is about a $40 savings, for anyone that lives in the area. 3N37 is best for heavier loads in the 12 ga. 1 3/8 to 1 5/8 oz. & 16 ga. for 1 1/8 oz. with applications for 20 & 28 gauges.

It also has pistol caliber applications, from 9MM to at least .44 Mag.

You can find the pistol data here: Reloading data | Handloading | Rifle, handgun & shotgun loads | Relo data | Reloading safety - Vihtavuori

And shotgun data here: http://www.gualandi.it/docs/tabpolv_2013_eng.pdf

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I made up this load today. Haven't shot it yet, it'll be a week or so with Christmas on the way.

The data came from the Gualandi pdf that I have listed a few times. I did swap the primer out as the data called for the Fiocchi 615 which I don't have. The load, if it works out, will be sent to Tom Armbrust in the spring.

Winchester 2 pc plastic hull
Winchester 209 primer
26.5 grains 3N37
Gualandi BRG16/21 (SG16) wad
1 1/8 oz. #6 mag lead shot

It meters very well and without a bit of exaggeration +/- 0.1 grain using a Sizemaster. It is a very fine extruded powder, probably with a flake size a lot like SR7625. It did not drool out of the top or bottom of the charge bar. The wad column height was perhaps a bit tall, it crimped fine, but it is definitely tight, but not to the point of tenting the crimp. I used both once fired and probably 3 times fired hulls.

I'll have some chrono numbers, a few patterns and maybe a cold soak test once hunting season is over.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

At that price I would buy ANY powder.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

It was normally $149. The receipt with tax was $118 and change, $26.82 a pound. That is decent on today's market. Cheaper than 8 lbs. of Perfect Pattern and Highgun by a few pennies, even more if it had to be shipped. I don't go to Minot that often especially during the winter. I had a bunch of errands to run, so it was worth the stop.

I like Scheel's, they always have something of interest. That place reminds me of how Cabela's used to be run.

They have Cheddite primers for $59.95, which isn't too bad.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I ended up with a little time today and played with the 3N37 just to find out a little about it. I didn't have the primers that Gualandi used a Fiocchi 615 or a Cheddite CX Mil. I used the Winchester instead. I shot 10 rounds to get a clear picture. For whatever reason my reference shot about 26 FPS slow today. So if you want to add 25 FPS be my quest.

Once it warms up I am going to ship a few loads off to Tom Armbrust to find out where this load is pressure wise and see if I can get it to 1250 FPS or so.

Joined: 30 Jul 2012 Posts: 318 Location: Central, ND

Mark did you cold soak these? Looks like a promising load, I may have to drive up to Mindrot

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

No Justin I haven't. I wanted to see what would happen at a fairly reasonable temperature. I am going to send Tom Armbrust some loads when he starts testing again in the spring. Probably with another grain of powder and Cheddite CX2000, Federal 209A's and Winchester 209's. I hit the middle of the powder drops that Gualandi gave.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I couldn't help it, I just had to try it and took a couple of roosters with the 3N37 load I posted above. Two shells two birds. Neither rooster had anything negative to say about it and my Model 37 didn't either.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1698 Location: Minnesota

That velocity pretty much equals the old 2 3/4 Dram 1 1/8th load that you cant get anymore. Will be interesting to see what pressure you get. The scheels I was in yesterday didnt have that powder and the Ch209s were $9/100. $65 for Eagle shot

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

Savage16,

I bought Cheddite's at the Minot Scheel's for $59.95/1000. It's been that price for quite a while.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

Just a little update on N320. This is not a published or a tested load, but it seems like a good starting point and one to send to Tom Armbrust in the spring.

16 Ga. Remington hull
Cheddite CX2000 primer
19.0 Grains N320
CB0078-16 wad
7/8 oz. lead shot

Average 1,241 FPS
Hi - 1,256 FPS
Lo - 1,222 FPS
ES - 34 FPS
Sd - 13 FPS

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I copied and pasted this from the other thread on Vihtavuori powders.

2/8/2023 Weather 41 degrees, mostly sunny, W wind @ 11 MPH, RH 69%
Shotgun used - Rem 1100 16 gauge, 28" barrel, 0.000" choke
Pro-Chrono - Start screen 2' from muzzle.
5 rounds tested

Warming rounds were fired before the 5 shot string.

All powder and shot drops were weighed. All hulls were once fired. All rounds were loaded on a MEC Sizemaster.

Cheddite 2 piece plastic hull (Herter's, not the new hulls)
Cheddite CX 2000 Primer
20.8 Grains Vihtavuori N320
Gualandi BRG 16/21 (SG16)
1 oz. #7 magnum shot
Crimp depth: .065"

Gualandi's data, no pressure or velocity was printed.

Average - 1250 FPS
Hi - 1274 FPS
Lo - 1237 FPS
ES - 37 FPS
SD - 17 FPS

#1 - 1239 FPS
#2 - 1274 FPS
#3 - 1237 FPS
#4 - 1266 FPS
#5 - 1237 FPS

Decent, not the best I have seen, but certainly something to work with. I am going to try different primers and see if I can get the SD/ES better.

Something to note, in the past I have tried Cheddite primers in this shotgun and all they did was pierce. I deprimed about 480 Cheddite new primed hulls because it was so bad. Granted, I did not shoot a lot of these loads, but not a single pierced Cheddite primer during warming shots, functioning shots and test rounds. These are brand new Cheddite CX2000 primers that I just purchased at the Scheel's in Minot, ND.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

I copied this one from the other thread also

Tried three different primers with the N320 powder.

2/27/2023 Weather 38 degrees, mostly sunny, W wind @ 20 MPH, RH 57%
Shotgun used - Rem 1100 16 gauge, 28" barrel, 0.000" choke
Pro-Chrono - Start screen 2' from muzzle.
5 rounds tested

Warming rounds were fired before the 5 shot string.

All powder and shot drops were weighed. All hulls were once fired. All rounds were loaded on a MEC Sizemaster.

Cheddite 2 piece plastic hull
Federal 209A Primer
20.8 Grains Vihtavuori N320
Gualandi BRG 16/21 (SG16)
1 oz. #7 magnum shot
Crimp depth: .065"

Gualandi's data, no pressure or velocity was printed, I subbed the primer.

Average - 1235 FPS
Hi - 1243 FPS
Lo - 1223 FPS
ES - 20 FPS
SD - 9 FPS

---------------------------------

Cheddite 2 piece plastic hull
Winchester 209 Primer
20.8 Grains Vihtavuori N320
Gualandi BRG 16/21 (SG16)
1 oz. #7 magnum shot
Crimp depth: .065"

Gualandi's data, no pressure or velocity was printed, I subbed the primer.

Average - 1223 FPS
Hi - 1231 FPS
Lo - 1220 FPS
ES - 11 FPS
SD - 4 FPS

-------------------------------------------------

Cheddite 2 piece plastic hull
RIO G-1000 Primer
20.8 Grains Vihtavuori N320
Gualandi BRG 16/21 (SG16)
1 oz. #7 magnum shot
Crimp depth: .065"

Gualandi's data, no pressure or velocity was printed, I subbed the primer.

Average - 1215 FPS
Hi - 1226 FPS
Lo - 1187 FPS
ES - 39 FPS
SD - 16 FPS

Funny, the two primers I expected to record the most consistent velocities with were the Cheddite and the RIO. Oh well, that just makes it easier.....if we can ever get Winchester and Federal primers again.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

Two more birds with the 3N37 load. I really like the stuff.

Joined: 25 Mar 2023 Posts: 2 Location: United States

I really enjoy this thread. What chrono do you use for testing? I have a lab radar and magneto speed but they do not work well for shotgun testing.

Thanks again.