I’ve long used N555 in my 7PRCW. This year, I decided to step it up with Vihtavuori N565 and compare it to other powders. Read on or watch the video to see what I learned.
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About N565
N565 piqued my interest some time ago when I heard friends raving about it for competition and hunting. This magnum powder is designed for .338 Lapua with a 250 grain bullet, but isn’t limited to that combination.
N565 is a semi-double-base spherical powder—the nitrocellulose is extruded and the nitroglycerin is infused rather than both being combined and extruded. This allows Vihtavuori to exclude reactants typically found in true double-base powders.
From Vihtavuori:
Designed to fill the gap between Vihtavuori N560 and N570 high energy rifle powders, the N565 was created specifically for the .338 Lapua Magnum with 250 gr bullets. In addition to a precisely tailored burn rate, this powder is extremely temperature stable, giving uniform results across a wide range of environments. We’ve also incorporated improved hygroscopic stability and our new de-coppering agent to ensure a cleaner barrel when shooting. N565 is REACH compliant without DNT or phthalates.
Physically, N565 grains have the same size as those of the N560 powder. As all Vihtavuori powders, it flows smoothly through powder measures and ensures good loadability and uniformity. The burn rate of the powder is a bit closer to N570, roughly splitting the difference between the two. Vihtavuori N565 is a single perforated extruded powder, having a bulk density of 960 g/l and an energy content of 4000 J/g.
While N565 was developed specifically for military sniping applications, it also has a wide range of sporting uses, particularly within long range shooting and ELR. The N565 has proven to be an ideal choice for calibers such as the 7mm Rem. Magnum, the .30-06, .300 Win Mag, .300 Norma Mag as well as the .338 Norma Mag.
Vihtavuori N565 rifle powder comes in 1 lbs and 1 kg bottles as well as 8 lbs containers.
N565 is in the 6.5 PRC and 300 PRC burn rate range.
It is a slower powder ideal for 7mm Rem Mag, .30-06, .300 Win Mag, and .300 Norma Mag.
Testing
I started with loading 7PRCW. Consulting the burn rate chart, I suspected that I would need more than my typical 57 grains of N555 to get the same velocities with N565.
Even so, I started at a safe 56 grains of N565. After obtaining a baseline velocity, I varied charge weights and recorded the velocities, standard deviations, and extreme spreads from my 30” 1:9 barrel.
I loaded prepped Lapua 6.5 PRC brass with CCI200 Primers and Berger 7mm 180 grain hybrid target bullets. Though I was only looking to obtain velocity data, I was pleasantly surprised with the tight groups I observed with zero load development.
Wanting experience with more than one cartridge, Gavin and I settled on a load for .300 PRC — a cartridge I’m largely unfamiliar with.
After reviewing some reloading manuals, we settled on 72.0 grains (under maximum) with Berger .30 caliber 215 grain hybrid target bullets, Federal 215 magnum primers, and brand-new Lapua 300 PRC brass. Though I was a bit hesitant about getting behind a rifle with a bipod, I still shot some good groups with this ammunition.
72.0 grains of N565 yielded 2,725 fps, just under the 2,805 fps velocity the manual gives for 74.1 grains. 74.0 grains yielded a closer 2,791 fps. These close results gave me some confidence that N565 is stable across a number of lots.
Under the Microscope
I compared N565 to H-1000, Varget, and StaBALL HD. Though I didn’t put N560 under the microscope, it’s interesting to note that N565 is approximately the size of N560 but closer to N570’s burn rate.
N565 granules have a large diameter and are short and stubby, so they may not meter well depending upon the electronic powder measure or powder thrower.
Conclusion
I was so impressed with N565’s performance with no fine tuning that I have already ordered 32 lbs. of it! Half inch 300 PRC groups at 100 yards blew away my F-Class gun, which is a little embarrassing but speaks to the power of the powder.
Get the Gear
Berger 7mm 180 Grain Hybrid Target Bullets at Creedmoor Sports and Midsouth Shooters Supply
Vihtavuori N565 Powder at Midsouth Shooters Supply
Lapua 6.5 PRC Brass at Creedmoor Sports and Midsouth Shooters Supply
Berger .30 Caliber 215 Grain Hybrid Target Bullets at Creedmoor Sports and Midsouth Shooters Supply
Lapua 300 PRC Brass at Creedmoor Sports and Midsouth Shooters Supply
Garmin Xero C1 Pro at Creedmoor Sports and Midsouth Shooters Supply
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Thanks,
John Masek
