Page 1 of 2
Better powders overseas?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 11:08 am
by John Weigel
Further to my earlier post regarding just how dramatic the throat-scouring affect of AR2209 powder with 7mm VLDs-in-lands is in my barrels. I've experimented fairly intensely over the past few days with 2213sc, and as previously - cannot get it to produce the level of accuracy I can get with 2209. I believe it's time to crack the code on legally importing some of the good stuff - e.g. RL23 or Vihtavuori 555. Have been legally importing projectiles, brass and barrels over the past few years, so am no stranger to Aussie bureaucratic challenges, and hate to burn up another year (and too many barrels) using less than ideal components. Before I research what is possible, and identify the likely difficulties, is there anyone who either has managed to do this already, and/or wishes to join force and share efforts and costs? John Weigel
birdingyear@gmail.com
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 11:19 am
by Rich4
Tigershark are bringing in a quantity of Vihtavouri pistol powders, might be worth a call to piggyback with them?
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:15 pm
by Brad
I'd be interested John
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:50 pm
by shadow
Vit N500 series of powder is no better than 09 on the throats, re23 is king here, agree 13 is good but not as accurate, and yes I know about vit powders from experience
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 8:21 pm
by willow
RL23 is unobtanium these days - even in the US I believe. The yanks are all going nuts for that triple nickel stuff, but again, it's a double base powder which is hard on the throats. A lot of the top US guys don't care though - F-class John shoots out 4-6 barrels per year for instance.
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 8:25 pm
by BATattack
What kind of barrel life are you getting? Is it the powder or could it be a particular brand or batch of barrels?
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 3:43 pm
by shadow
Spot on willow, if you have money and access to stuff , then they don't care, we carnt even get bullets.
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 4:31 pm
by BATattack
shadow wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 3:43 pm
Spot on willow, if you have money and access to stuff , then they don't care, we carnt even get bullets.
Do you think the likes of Erik and John actually pay for barrels? They have that many "followers" they are literally walking billboards. Free barrels for those guys dedicating their life to winning would be the cheapest advertising manufactures would get.
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:49 pm
by Rich4
Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that anything is free, those winning are also aggressive competitors and will spend their own money to win, also there is not the margin in most of our products that most imagine, generally like most things in life it comes down to individual priorities.
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 9:04 pm
by shadow
Batattack, I think nothing, if you have money and access to stuff, then nothing matters,, period
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2025 8:59 am
by JezL
Back on Topic ...
As we have discussed John, I have seen something similar with throat erosion using 2209 ... I dont have the extensive data/past barrel's to support it, As I feel its only happening on more recent Lots of BTI 2209 - which came in around 2018/2019 ?? .... yet Im trying to understand what else can cause it. (excessive heat, firing too fast, maybe 2209 requires a much slower tempo to reduce heat?? )
It would be great if there were other options / ways to import different Powders ... Its a real shame Vihtavori powder's are not imported 'LIKE THEY WERE' years past. ( was it through Nioa originally? )
With Alliant no longer producing / supplying, what other alternative is there ?
Has anyone succesfully imported Powder's from Oversea's? Is this a possible/viable option to even consider?
John, I would be willing to jump in on sharing cost's to import
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2025 11:39 am
by Rich4
Originally Vihtavuori was imported by a tile wholesaler in Brisbane of all things, really took some finding for a bushy pre gps days
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 12:28 pm
by ned kelly
G'day All,
Vit powders were originally imported by Custers. Then Nioa took over and we rarely saw it in Victoria after that
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 1:01 pm
by Rhysk
Definitely interested in the Vit powders, as i have been looking at the N160 and N165
Seems like some guys in the US have been experimenting and seeing great results in accuracy, and reduced erosion rates, in 7mm SAUM and a few other spicy 7mms
Re: Better powders overseas?
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 1:20 pm
by PeteFox
Someone importing Vit pistol powders, could we piggyback on this
https://tigersharkballistics.com.au/blo ... -australia
Or is this link out of date?
Pete