Vv n540??

[Jurive]

N540. Has anyone tried this powder yet.

[thewoodbutcherer]

Nobody has tried this powder yet?

[alwie]

N540. Has anyone tried this powder yet.

I have some and am planning on trying it with 90 gr TGK  and 105 gr Berger VLD hunting bullets when I get my AR put together.

[alwie]

This website has some N540 load data if you are willing to pay: www.xxl-reloading.com

[CZ527 Guy]

N540 Has never been seriously on my radar. Suppose due to slim availability of the powder & load data for calibers I utilize.

[Jurive]

I have some loaded for the range and will report back after. Didn’t want to waste any more time and money after I found out my bolt was jacked.

[r.tenorio671]

...check out this YT vid, info on N540 w/103 ELD-X with a bolt action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPJLDwCIr_U

[gorillamotors]

Interesting video. Now I would like to see a video comparing N540 against LVR and CFE223.

[r.tenorio671]

....this burn rate chart from "Reload Swiss"  shows a "linear" comparison between powders that may be helpful to folks..

YMMV


  Reload_Swiss-Burnrate_Chart_dt.pdf (Size: 1.1 MB / Downloads: 51)

[CZ527 Guy]

Finally see this Propellant available at a price that nearly made me drop a duce. Better options out there from my perspective at todays high prices still less than 540 by a good bit.

[GRH]

While waiting for the omnipotent gods of shipping to bless me with parts to complete my upper, I have been powder modeling in an attempt to buy once, or at least weed the field.

Tac, W748, CFE223, Varget, A2520, BL-C2, LVR, H4350 and N540 all fall within acceptable parameters with expected give and take between them all.

As I usually find, Vihtavuori is the clear choice, but... times being the way they are and local availability being what it is I could not justify the cost even if I could find some.

I have no baseline yet to judge so I'll probably go with Tac Varget or W748, whichever I can get my mitts on first. Obviously there is no way to know what someones particular setup would actually like the best without trying.

If I saw some on the shelf with some extra cash in my pocket, I would absolutely love to try N540, but for now I have plenty of work to do first.

[r.tenorio671]

While waiting for the omnipotent gods of shipping to bless me with parts to complete my upper, I have been powder modeling in an attempt to buy once, or at least weed the field.

Tac, W748, CFE223, Varget, A2520, BL-C2, LVR, H4350 and N540 all fall within acceptable parameters with expected give and take between them all.

As I usually find, Vihtavuori is the clear choice, but... times being the way they are and local availability being what it is I could not justify the cost even if I could find some.

I have no baseline yet to judge so I'll probably go with Tac Varget or W748, whichever I can get my mitts on first. Obviously there is no way to know what someones particular setup would actually like the best without trying.

If I saw some on the shelf with some extra cash in my pocket, I would absolutely love to try N540, but for now I have plenty of work to do first.

....in a previous post I detailed my pressure tests with W748 & 105 RDF's and 8208XBR & 70 Varmageddons.  Both worked quite well and no pressure indications.

....if you load for other calibers with any of the powders you listed, and you have some on hand, it would be worth your time to test with it once you complete your build and before you purchase a powder "unseen".  Hodgdon's  "Load Data Center"  has an extensive list of powder/bullet combinations you can refer to, pay particular attention to a powders pressure rating (shown for MAX charge).

...LVR & CFE right now are "generally" aknowledged as the "kings of speed" if that is your goal, but for some folks the other aspects (temp sensitivity, clean/dirty. etc) are factors in their consideration, YMMV.

[GRH]

....in a previous post I detailed my pressure tests with W748 & 105 RDF's and 8208XBR & 70 Varmageddons.  Both worked quite well and no pressure indications.

....if you load for other calibers with any of the powders you listed, and you have some on hand, it would be worth your time to test with it once you complete your build and before you purchase a powder "unseen".  Hodgdon's  "Load Data Center"  has an extensive list of powder/bullet combinations you can refer to, pay particular attention to a powders pressure rating (shown for MAX charge).

...LVR & CFE right now are "generally" aknowledged as the "kings of speed" if that is your goal, but for some folks the other aspects (temp sensitivity, clean/dirty. etc) are factors in their consideration, YMMV.

I do have TAC and was planning on that first, but I'd like to also give Varget or W748 a try, at least I have a fighting chance of locating those locally if my timing is right.
I'm not too thrilled with what I've heard about LVR being really dirty and temp sensitive so I'm hesitant on that. I know someone that uses it so maybe he will spare me a bit for a workup if I ask nice.

With a 103gr Hornady all three powders show 2500ish fps at 10%+ below Pmax but obviously I'll start lower than that. They all have decent fill ratio and burn rate/ratio, it will probably just a matter of luck which I stumble across first.

Honestly I plan on sticking to 103/5/9 bullets because if I want something lighter I already have those choices in the same and other platforms. Also this is going to be an exercise in putting a "heavy" bullet down accurately and repeatably.

I don't have bullet jump or H20 capacity and some other details yet but things look quite promising so far.

[alwie]

There is a youtube 6mm ARC reloading video using v540 powder ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPJLDwCIr_U

[Jurive]

Got some great groups after getting my new jp bolt with the n540. .24 inches.

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Here is a pic

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Also the bottom right is a 58 gr vmax with h4895

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Sorry guys that is the h4895 powder. Will get correct pictures later but will leave these because it preformed great as well

[popgun]

Nice! Post some velocities and barrel length.

[junkmansj]

Been using VV N140 26.6 and 90 gr Barnes target bt Shot a .548
Also using TAC 25.9 108 ELD got a .460 100 yds AR 6MM ARC

Cannot figure how to load photos?

[petegren]

First shot my new 6ARC

20" barrel
N540 26,5gr
Hornady 108 ELD-M
New Straline Brass
Federal AR Magnum primers

Shot only 3 rounds for velocity

2483fps
2474fps
2477fps

No pressure signs

[NDSwede]

I like N540 in 6 ARC, particularly with lighter bullets.  I would say that it has a faster burn rate than is listed on newer (2023) burn rate charts.  On charts that are a few years older, it is listed right after N140, which puts it right with Varget as far as burn rate.  In my experience, that is where it belongs.  
Before I give out any load data, I'd like to make one big qualification.  I have a Rexus ultra bolt and treat my gas gun like it was a bolt action.  So, that means I run bolt gun pressures in it.  If you load any of the hotter loads you should know that you do so at your own risk.  Here are the results of three ladder tests I did with three different bullets.  Gas gun: 22" barrel; rifle length gas system; Rexus bolt.

Hornady 87 gr. Vmax.  My favorite bullet with this powder.
28.7 gr   2886 fps
29.0 gr   2910 fps
29.3 gr   2965 fps
29.6 gr   3012 fps   most accurate load in my gun.  .325" group
29.9 gr   3037 fps  (hot)
30.2 gr   3049 fps  (hotter)
30.5 gr   3086 fps  (to hot)

Speer 100 gr. SpBt
27.7 gr   2743 fps
28.0 gr   2758 fps 
28.3 gr   2784 fps
28.6 gr   2811 fps
28.9 gr   2850 fps  (hot) best load in my gun.  SD 4
29.2 gr   2872 fps  (hotter)
29.5 gr   2891 fps  (way to hot)

Hornady 105 HPBT
26.2 gr   2569 fps
26.5 gr   2602 fps
26.8 gr   2661 fps
27.1 gr   2685 fps
27.4 gr   2712 fps  (hot)
27.7 gr   2755 fps  (hotter)  most accurate group in my gun .289"
28.0 gr   2788 fps  (to hot) 

General impressions:  
1.  N540 seems to be a faster powder than is listed in current burn rate charts.  Similar to Varget as stated earlier.  
2.  Standard deviations were consistently better at lower powder charges with all three bullet weights.  
3.  It seems to be more temp stable than LeverEvolution.  
4.  I really like N540 for lighter bullet weights.  I'm going to use it as more of a varmint load. I thought it was exceptional with the Hornady 87 Vmax.  
5.  I really like Lever for heavier bullets 100+ grains.  
6.  N540 is a really nice stick powder.

[alwie]

I have a recipe:

• Starline brass
  
• CCI BR-4
  
• N540 27.0 gr
  
• 105 gr hornady
  
• 18” barreled gas rifle:
  

Weather:

• temp: 29 C
  
• humidity: 47%
  

Ballistics:

• MV: 794.1 m/s
  
• std:  1.4 m/s
  
• spread:  4.2 m/s
  

5 shot group