In reality, decoppering originated over a century ago in artillery shells, due to fouling so severe that strips of copper sometimes hung from cannon muzzles. Many handloaders also believe decoppering agents are a recent development, and perhaps even marketing fiction. I have yet to see any noticeable change in impact with powders advertised as temperature resistant, or change in muzzle velocity at zero Fahrenheit of over 30/35 fps.Īll the Vihtavuori powders are fine-granule, even the really slow-burners, so they meter easily through mechanical measures. My tests have found a shift of up to 3 inches at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, after the rifle was sighted-in at 70 degrees Fahrenheit – which amounts to a foot at 400 yards. This is also true – but the problem with cold-sensitive powders is not trajectory, but a significant change in impact at 100 yards, which can be in any direction. They also often say that a loss of 100 fps results in only slightly more bullet drop at 400 yards. This is generally true, especially at typical “deer ranges,” partly because significant differences in muzzle velocity are rare with any modern smokeless rifle powder at temperatures from around 25 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Many average handloaders, particularly deer hunters, are puzzled by such developments, saying they have never experienced any problems when hunting in different temperatures.
Ping me if you would like to see some of my extensive test results.īy the way Power Pistol is pretty good, better than Unique, but is has a LOT of flash in case that matters to you.Vihtavuori makes two main lines of rifle powders, the 100 series including N130 (left), which are all single-based, and the 500 series including N540, which are double-based with added nitroglycerin for more velocity.Vihtavuori powders have a reputation for fine accuracy, but today all are temperature-resistant, and since 2017 contain a decoppering agent. Good to great accuracy too.įrom a versatility standpoint, Unique wins if you consider there is shotgun and some old reduced rifle data, but if we are talking strictly handgun loads, True Blue is WAY better in all combinations!!! It doesn't appear to have unusual pressure spikes either when working up loads. True Blue does excellent with both jacketed and cast bullets, and even downloads well in low pressure 38 Special and 44 Special loads. In those it will still give within 50-100 fps of what the true slow burners (296, H110, 200, No.9) give in 6" or under barrels.
Burns clean, delivers nice velocity, best/lowest velocity spreads (single digits), doesn't seem to be position sensitve, can run with standard primers, and is useful from mild loads to full power (speed) in everything except the magnums. It flows through a powder measure better (more consistently) than anything I've ever seen. Having tried dang near everything in the last 20 years, I hit on an outside the box option a few years ago and it has now become my No 1 most used pistol powder for 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Mag, 40 S&W, 44 Special, 44 Mag, and 45 Auto loads.