N140 Powder

[Dave881]

Hi guys,
I am in need of some information and some help to do a couple of test loads. So my first question is how many people have any experience with this powder in a shorter barreled 308? Mine has an 18 inch tube. I am trying to make a load with 150gr nosler ballistic tips and it's not grouping as well as I would like with the 4198 powder I have. Does anyone have any info about this powder as from what I can find it's a very popular choice and isn't on the banned list. Could anyone maybe recommend another alternative powder that is good in shorter tubes.
Now for a cheeky question, would there be anybody local to Haywards Heath that has a tub of n140 that would be willing to sell or donate a small amount of it for me to try? I don't really want to shell out on a whole tub of it to find it's not the right choice for my gun. I know I am asking a lot but would really appreciate any help.
Thanks in advance guys.
Dave

 

[Stevie/P]

N135 would better option with 150 gr

 

[Dave881]

Even with the short barrel? Used to use it with a longer barrel and 165gr BTs but they were very slow, accurate but slow. I will have a look and see if I have any left, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[JTO]

The Nosler manual shows N140 as the most accurate powder for their 150grn BT, but from a 24" barrel.

 

[Dave881]

Hi JTO,
Nosler load data was one of the places I looked, everything I have found would indicate that its a great powder but I can't find any information using it in a short barrel.
Dave

 

[plumber01]

Most people i shoot with use n140 in 308 , quite a few have 20 inch barrels, i doubt 18 will really be that much different, and i guess you bought an 18 inch, because you wont be shooting 1200 yards at Bisley! although a mate at my club uses a 20 inch out to a 1000,and does rather well, the bullets should stabilise fine, you will just loose about a 100fps or so and you might get a bit of flash ( looks good at night) If you want to use a faster powder i would have thought n540 might be better, although someone like Laurie would probably be the best to ask . good luck

 

[bluesako]

i use n140 in my 20inch barrel no problem, my mate use,s it in his 20inch 308, and it works well. bs.

 

[Laurie]

N140 does just fine in short 308 barrels. However, as supersport says, N135 is a slightly better match. N135 is the canister version of a powder Vihtavuori developed many years ago for the 7.62mm NATO cartridge, in effect a 308 with 144-150gn bullets and is a little 'quicker' than N140. N140 suits 155gn and heavier bullets better and this is what the manufacturer says in its blurb. In truth, there isn't a lot of difference in their burning rates and QuickLOAD suggests both see 99.5-100% charge burn in an 18-inch barrel, although I never know how much to trust the program on things like this.

N540 is an interesting option, maybe useful in that it allows heavier charges if needed not just through its burning rate but because it is a more dense product and many 308 loads are limited by what the case will hold with 150 and lighter weight bullets. Viht provides loads for it with a wide range of 150gn bullet makes and types. In the past I've sometimes found Viht N500 series powders will produce excessive muzzle flash and blast in 22-24 inch barrels if pressures are below maximum, so this may be an issue here.

 

[paulbshooting]

I am a newbie to reloading but found the N140 is great with nosler 150 grain BT's in my 308. From memory a smidge over 44 grains for std length 308 sako barrel but suggest you use the nosler load data and work up from min value.
I helped a friend develop a 308 load for his remy 700 with the same bullets and we ended up with a similar powder load, again a std length barrel.

 

[Dave881]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's very helpful and interesting. I think I can get some N135 to have a go with, would anyone locally have any N140 I could purchase a small amount of to try?
In response to plumber01 no I won't be doing 1000 yard match shooting, it's my stalking rifle so I don't need massive velocity, I would love to try shooting at 1000 but it's not likely to happen any time soon unfortunately.
What I am trying to make is a round that will be good for both neck and chest shots as I stalk a lot of different situations and would like to be able to shoot either way without having to think about. I think I have picked the right bullet, bit would love to hear other people's experiences with the 150 grain nosler BTs for both neck and chest, or any other suggestions for a projectile that will do both. I might be chasing the impossible by doing this but if you don't try you don't know. Sorry for side tracking the thread but any options would be great.
Thanks for your help,
Dave

 

[pinkfoot1]

150gn Sierra Gamekings will do all you want, At circa 2600ft/sec.,.minimum meat damage, with adequate exit wound, 75 to 250yds.

I

 

[enfieldspares]

Hello Dave881. See if you can get in touch with anyone that reloads for the British .303 cartridge as Viht N140 is pretty much that powder that everybody that shoots it in competition uses and has used for the last decade or two. Which will certainly mean that Fulton's stock it and probably Anderson's too. Hope it helps.

 

[1894]

You're likely to top out about 2,600fps which means in my experience you want a slightly more expansive bullet. Sierra prohunters were not very authorative on fallow at the 200/225yds. Moving to ballistic tips improved things greatly.
With 165gr I found N150 better. I've never found barrel length to effect powder choice in my 18" 308

 

[howy308]

You're likely to top out about 2,600fps which means in my experience you want a slightly more expansive bullet. Sierra prohunters were not very authorative on fallow at the 200/225yds. Moving to ballistic tips improved things greatly.
With 165gr I found N150 better. I've never found barrel length to effect powder choice in my 18" 308

I have never had any problem taking out large Red stags out to 300yds with the pro hunters, bigger than any fallow buck.

 

[1894]

Glad to hear it. Maybe you had more velocity. A red will probably cause a bit more expansion.

Everything died with the prohunters just took noticably longer to go down over a goodly sample ie a whole doe season.

 

[Colonel]

The 6th edition of Nosler Reloading guide shows N140 as the most accurate powder tested with 150gr bullets. I use 43.5gr of N140 with a 155gr bullet out to 600yds with on problem. That just about sums it up.

 

[Scapegoat]

I use 150gr Nosler BTs with 42.5gr of N140. They are very accurate, soft on the shoulder through a Tikka T3 lite, (20”) good effects on Roe, and proved excellent on a red stag neckshot. Not massively fast, but surprisingly good expansion without massive damage.