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Viht N555 vs RL16 Your thoughts?

granite wagon

bottle washer
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 5, 2021
221
285
NC
Looking to see if anyone has tested the two in the same rig with same bullet

Thanks
 
Everbody's silent.

But I know that I was directed off from N555 towards N160 for 136gr in 6.5CM and I am fully enjoying that advice. The N160 plays out really well. I think So far even during load development at 300m I have not struck a bullet (Scenar 136gr) outside 1moa.

This is 2 different cases in test, Sako @2900 and Sellier @2841. COAL 2.737".

Screenshot_20220819-230241_Range Buddy.jpg
 
Its an easy Vihtavuori for me, I also like their powders, but not a lot of people can get over the higher price.
Also the 500 series of powders are double based and run quiet a bit hotter
you get more speed, but at what cost.
I might have to try some anyways to see how it stacks up against the others.
 
500 series are not all hotter and are not all double based. N555 is 3700J

in reality preacticly none of the powders is double based, because of the definition, even if they have nitroglicerine. but they have it too small amount to be doublebased by definition.
 
while I have seen a few loads with both powders seemingly work very well n555 is a bit anemic same with rl16 . but if it's the only powder you can get get them they both seem to shoot pretty nice well to me , just slower speeds than I am looking for while staying between a range of powder use , you could be happy within them .
 
N555 is slower burn than RL16. It's more similar in velocity/pressure to H4831sc/RL23. I know a few guys using it successfully in the 300wsm. It's definitely cooler burning than RL16/RL23. I use it in my 22 creed and the barrel is noticeably cooler on strings vs the RL powders.
 
N555 is slower burn than RL16. It's more similar in velocity/pressure to H4831sc/RL23. I know a few guys using it successfully in the 300wsm. It's definitely cooler burning than RL16/RL23. I use it in my 22 creed and the barrel is noticeably cooler on strings vs the RL powders.
nowhere near those speeds!

N555 will act maybe just a little quicker than H4350!

N165 is way slower than N555, and N165 is in the region of H4831 / RL 23!
 
nowhere near those speeds!

N555 will act maybe just a little quicker than H4350!

N165 is way slower than N555, and N165 is in the region of H4831 / RL 23!
I cannot fit enough N555 to give pressure signs in my 25 or 22 creed cases. However I can get enough RL16 or H4350 in there to blow primers. I was able to reach similar velocity with similarly charges weights with the same bullet using rl23 and N555 in the 22 creed. Regardless of what you say, I'll take my first hand experience of results observed on chrono and measuring case webs, reading the primers over what a burn rate chart says regardless.
 
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you can take your first hand experiences and think whatever you want, but when you dont know shit and tell this shit to others, you will be corrected by people who know better. you dont know anything about energy content, bulkiness, burning.
 
I cannot fit enough N555 to give pressure signs in my 25 or 22 creed cases. However I can get enough RL16 or H4350 in there to blow primers. I was able to reach similar velocity with similarly charges weights with the same bullet using rl23 and N555 in the 22 creed. Regardless of what you say, I'll take my first hand experience of results observed on chrono and measuring case webs, reading the primers over what a burn rate chart says regardless.
H4350 is my go-to powder for my .284's with 180 grain bullets. The node that works across every lot # I have used is 50.1 to 50.8 grains giving me velocities around 2830 in a 32" barrel. VV555 was used one year in 2 barrels @ 52.8 to 53.16 grains at velocities from 2845 to 2870. I could definitely fit enough triple nickel in that case to get pressure signs way before a compressed load. H2O capacity is much different in a CM case vs a 284, but you will definitely be over pressure, whether your brass and primers are telling you or not.

You have to look at energy that the powder produces, not just the published burn rates.
 
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the problem is that with the velocity we can't tell which powder is faster burning and which is slower. we reloaders can't measure peak pressure, nor the whole presure curve integral. we can only measure velocity of the bullet.

but velocity is higher if we have energy reacher powder (like double based), and even if it is rated slower at peak pressure. higher velocity of the bullet doesn't mean that powder is faster burning or having peak pressure faster. and different powders act different in different calibers.
 
Mmm...pressure curve integral. The area under that curve is so informative.