Vihtavuori powder & 30 Luger

[rhuff]

Originally Posted by GIFFROY

I got a good load with :
bullet : H&N (copperised lead) 86 grains HS RN .311
primer : Winchester Small Pistol Standard
case : Winchester trimmed to 21,5 mm
powder : (French) Vectan BA-9 : 5,1 grains
cartridge length : 29,6 mm
I measured the velocity of ten rounds and obtained the following results :
Mean : μ = 363,3 m/s
Maximum dispersion : dm = 18 m/s
Standard deviation σ = 5,1 m/s
No signs of overpressure and good functioning of the weapon.

If I had access to those components(bullets/powder), I would surely give them a try.....but I don't. Any reloader that can produce reloads that function 100% in HIS Luger, has accomplished something.

I worked for many months before I found a combination of powder, bullet, OAL, etc. that my DWM liked, and would function with. When I get, and fit my new BarSto barrels in 30Luger for my Colt Defender, and Browning Hi Power, I will most likely have to start all over again on a new recipe for them. I don't think that they will be as temperamental as is the Luger.

[P. Octo]

Originally Posted by GIFFROY

Hello covert and rhuff,

Maybe I have not explained clearly enough : I have no problem with the setback of the bullets left in the magazine. Without crimp (or with a very light crimp) the lenght of 2 dummy cartridges remained unchanged during more than 20 shots.
I have just the problem to find a powder load giving a reasonable pressure AND strong enough to make the pistol operate. I will try 4,1 or 4,2 grains of N-320 ith my 86 grains bullets.
Anyway thank you very much for the help.

giffroy

This is for a 1906 .30, Swiss, made by DWM in excellent condition:
Bullets: 93 gr Fiocchi
Cases: Fiocchi
Primers: CCI
Powder: V 340: started at 0.29g (4.47gr, call it 4.5gr) but that proved too low in my Luger and caused ejection problems, no locking upon an empty magazine. Went up to 0.31g (4.78gr, call it 4.8gr) and no more problems, good accuracy: most bullets stayed inside the 8 ring on a 25 m target. Very clean burning.
I am going to try lead bullets plated with 100 microns of copper, .309 that can be obtained in Italy at the very reasonable price of € 75 per 1000 ($80.80 at today's rate). I am going there for a competion next week and hopefully will pick them up and report after testing.
Around my club, Luger afficionados favour the V 340 over the 320 for the .30; these old ladies need to be treated gently and with respect if we want to hand them over to the next generation... V 320 would be good for a 9 mm, though.
Please, add the usual disclaimer: proceed with caution, works in my gun etc.

[sheepherder]

I was poking around last week and found this listing for VV N340 at Handloads.com for the 30 Luger.

Haven't tried it; have never seen the powder in my area.

[P. Octo]

Yes, I also have the 5.4 gr listed, but as a maximum load. I have just started playing with the Luger so I am loath to submiy it to such pressure. I will chronograph so as to stay around 1180 ft/s max, which should be enough to punch holes in paper at 25 m. Speaking of which, I must aim well under the black with the 4.8 gr load to keep them Inside. I guess that with a hotter load I'll need to aim slightly higher, probably just at the 6 o'clock of the black. I remember reading somewhere that they were tuned to be point of aim at 50 m.

[Sergio Natali]

Giffroy I'm not using VIHTAVUORI as it's getting too expensive, anyway I'll give you some details:

round 60 gr 5.5 gr of VIHTAVUORI 340 oal 27.5
" " 3.5 VIHTAVUORI 310 " 27.5
" 73gr 4.9 VIHTAVUORI 340 29.0
" " 3.5 VIHTAVUORI 310 29.0
" 93 gr 4.9 VIHTAVUORI 340 29.7
110 gr 3.6 VIHTAVUORI 340 29.0

Please check and compare my data with other's

Safe shooting.

Sergio

[LU1900]

Vihta is less expensive in France and more regular than other , perhaps french A1 is better
/
I use only N320 in 9para , 32acp and 30luger and now 2kg for 140€
/
You use what in Italy ?

[rhuff]

I may well have to give this VIHTA 340 powder a try in my 30 Luger brass IF we ever get any powder to purchase. This whole mess with no pistol powder is a pain in the butt!!

[Sergio Natali]

Patrice

If one doesn't shoot too much VIHTAVUORI is absolutely perfect, bu if you go to the range twice a week like me it's advisable to use a bit cheaper powder like "Granular S" made by Nobelsport of Pont de Bois. :-)

Sergio

[P. Octo]

Sergio,
What would you compare this powder to in the Vhitavuori range (or the French BA..)?

[P. Octo]

Originally Posted by GIFFROY

I got a good load with :
bullet : H&N (copperised lead) 86 grains HS RN .311
primer : Winchester Small Pistol Standard
case : Winchester trimmed to 21,5 mm
powder : (French) Vectan BA-9 : 5,1 grains
cartridge length : 29,6 mm
I measured the velocity of ten rounds and obtained the following results :
Mean : μ = 363,3 m/s
Maximum dispersion : dm = 18 m/s
Standard deviation σ = 5,1 m/s
No signs of overpressure and good functioning of the weapon.

Using BA 9, what would you recommend for a copperised 93 gr, .309?
This for 1906 Swiss in excellent condition. Ideally, I 'd be looking for a velocity of 360 m/s (1180 ft/s)

[GIFFROY]

Hello Octo,

Sorry for this very very late answer.

BA-9 powder seems to be a good choice.

My pet load for a Swiss 06/29 is :
bullet : H&N .311 RN HS 86 grain
primer : Winchester small pistol
powder : Vectan BA-9 : 5,2 grain
Vo (13 measures) = 174,7 m/s and a standerd deviation of 1,21%

Best wishes with this fabulous gun.

JMG / Belgium

[LU1900]

I think a BIG problem with your Vo at 174 m/s

[P. Octo]

Originally Posted by GIFFROY

Hello Octo,

Sorry for this very very late answer.

BA-9 powder seems to be a good choice.

My pet load for a Swiss 06/29 is :
bullet : H&N .311 RN HS 86 grain
primer : Winchester small pistol
powder : Vectan BA-9 : 5,2 grain
Vo (13 measures) = 174,7 m/s and a standerd deviation of 1,21%

Best wishes with this fabulous gun.

JMG / Belgium

Sorry too for a late answer but I was away at a Bench Rest competition.
I use 93gr, either jacketed or "ramate" (copper coated), so my load is slightly lighter: I use N340, 4.78gr (0.31g). As you know, N340 is a good bit milder than BA9. No problem with ejection and very good accuracy.
I test fired a military 06/29 last Thursday with factory load and they grouped in the 9 and 10 rings. Amazing! The gun is in perfect condition.

[LU1900]

Nice to know , I would use N340 for the 9 parabellum in IPSC for a tanfoglio , less pressure and more velocity , so if it work so nicely on 30 L ......

[GIFFROY]

LU1900,
Very sorry, I made a mistake : the Vo is not 174,7 m/s but 374,7 m/s ...

[P. Octo]

Giffroy,
As I am using a copperised 93gr, I'll try a load of 5 gr of BA 9. Any comment?

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by P. Octo

Giffroy,
As I am using a copperised 93gr, I'll try a load of 5 gr of BA 9. Any comment?

You may even start at 4.7 gr BA9. Some guns already cycle with that load.

A word of caution: BA9 doesn't strike me as the most consistent powder from lot to lot. You may want to start low on the chart and work your way up.

[P. Octo]

Good point; all the more so as my lot is, lest's say, vintage...