SmallCaliberCentral

Hi im new to the forums.
but anyone have any issues with the
VV N530 Hight Energy powder ?

Using 26.5 Gr with 32gr V-max Hornady
Hornady cases 2.240 - Magtech primers ( soft - i dont recomend magtech ) as i had 2 where the pin punched though

pretty consistent groups 0.25 id like to get tighter but im limted by optics
using a hunting scope low power. Barska 8-16x50 huntmaster on a Howa 1500 (rem 700) heavy barrel (floating)

hard to get decent powders here in NM. Picked up N530 since its comes close to some good .223 / 5.56 data.

Start 25.0 grains
End 27.0 grains ( seemed a bit harsh could be the crap primers and overpressure )

anyone share some experience with the VV N530 powder for the .204 much appreciated.

Welcome to the forum.
I've seen the same thing with the Mag Tech's. Primers poppin at all different load levels.
No rhyme or reason to it. I simply discontinued use after that first session.

Viht powders?
Only advice I have is keep an eye on the necks of your fired brass.
Couple the long jump to the lands in most 204's with the smooth power curve of Viht and
its possible your necks won't obturate (expand)
Beyond that it should work just fine.

Thx for the info : ill keep eye on the necks
so far only one outa the 100 ive reloaded have had a crack
probably just a bad shell. ( knock on wood )

i loaded 40 rds yesterday with 26.5grns of VihtaVouri N530 (high energy)
i would say bout 90% of them the primer caps got punched.
fellow shooter at the ranged said same. most likely primers are horrid.
the box is labled Magtech 7 1/2 small rifle ...( we had thought it was the handgun primers )
there was no sign of the primers flattening so the load was not hot.
ill try to post a scan of them.

so far the brass is not showing any deterioration. Using RCBS X-dies.
i left a few at 2.258 and they seemed to chamber slightly stiff .....but the 2.420 overall seemed to chamber nicely in my toy.

i think once i get my hands on some decent primers ill be ok
may even change to BC-2 on some advice for powder.
but i do like the N530...burns clean

as you can see some had normal cratering...while the rest..u can see the anvil down in the primer ..lol
BAD BAD primers....never buyin them again

Have not loaded N530, but in your picture your loads appear to be way overpressure. It could just be your picture, but primers appear really flat and smoked around the primers in the first two as well. Checked the Hornady load data here and just a preliminary search for 530 and only found data for 540. I would not fire anymore of those loads and when I got some better primers, I wouldn't want to proceed with 530 until I was sure of the recommended ranges. Try some Rem 7.5BR's which have a pretty hard cup.

Also your coal of 2.240 is below Hornady's recommended coal of 2.245 in their data for 540. That might be increasing your pressure if they recommend the same coal for 530. I normally load 40vmax at 2.345-2.350 for best results with most powders. Also if I work up a load in Win brass, I usually have to reduce the load by .4g if I switch to Hornady brass to stay at the same velocity.

Maybe someone who has experience with 530 in 204 Ruger will be along shortly to help you out. Where did you find the data for 530?

Nah, he's not overpressure. Thats exactly what Mag Tech 7.5's do.
They are complete total garbage even with starting loads.
I tossed the 2000 I bought behind the back seat of my truck in case I got stuck on glare ice this winter.
Would've been interesting

I do agree you should immediately stop using them.
Besides the safety factor its not doing your gun any favors.
Your chewing up and etching the boltface and its likely your bolt is full of metal shrapnel. Not good.

Charge weights seem in line. I've shot 530 but I never save data. Takes all the fun out of it.
You'll find it very hard to judge pressures until you get some normal primers.

Its possible the lower charges leaked around the edges. If in fact those are the lower charges
When I first used Walt Bergers Viht data I found it so conservative I was getting total blowby around the case with his starting loads.
I do recall that 530 ramped up pressures quick once you get pressure going. Much quicker than 135-140. Perhaps as fast as 133 but that would be taxing my memory recall a bit much.
Do be careful.

I don't see any sign of over pressure. I don't have any experience with mag tech primers or viht powders, but I do have a lot of experience with my Howa 1500 in 204. What I do see in your pics is some cratering in the primers. My Howa does the same thing with the Winchester small rifle primers that I have been using since forever. Never tried any other primers , but it is my belief that the firing pin hole is just a tad over sized, which causes the brass of the primer to flow into the firing pin hole creating the crater effect when a cartridge is fired. My vangard chambered in 223, which is made by Howa, does the same thing. My gun guy said there is nothing to worry about as long as the primers do not show any other signs of over pressure. I.E. Flat primers or any kind of piercing.
This info is worth just what you paid for it, and is only my humble opinion.

yar ..my bad shoulda mentioned the first 2 with black are majik marker...i marked those for longer COL i was using

but yea the scan doesnt give good pic of the primers...
im almost certain its the primers being too soft.

someone suggested to me CCI and Federal would be better im on a hunt for those in town
but i may have to just start ordering online...since the gun shops here dont like to carry much of a selection.

i do appreciate everones input ..gives me ideas on what to change. and keep on the look out for.

I don't have any experience with N530 loads in the 204 but have achieved decent results with N135. VV powders seem to operate better at high pressures......either through tighter neck tension or jamming the bullets into the lands. I've just begun load development with a rebarreled Remington 700 ADL........24" SuperMatch PacNor with match chamber and 12 twist rifling. i'm only shooting 3 shot groups but 26.5 grains of N135 with 32 Grain Vmaxes yielded 3 groups of .284",.430" (probably operator error) and .167" which is about a .353" average. My overall length is @ 2.333" which is just engaging the lands.......WW Brass and Federal Match primers, don't know if this is of any help, but thought I'd relate my experience.

Thought id include a pic of my toy
Howa 1500 (remington 700) .204 Ruger
heavy barrel
3 position saftey
thumb-through stock
harris bipod
Burris High Rings

soon to have a decent scope gonna put this scope on my 30-06 when i get my benchrest scope soon.