Vihtavuori N500 High Energy
Vihtavuori N570
For large-capacity magnums in long-range target shooting and military applications.
The slowest of the N500 high-energy powders, for very large magnum cases in long-range target work. The thing to know before you buy it is Vihtavuori's own published caution: at deep sub-zero temperatures heavy loads of N570 show signs of increased pressure, and Vihtavuori does not recommend it there, while stating the rest of the N500 line stays safe below freezing. If you shoot winter matches, pick something else. Vihtavuori also advises weighing charges rather than throwing them, and they mean it.
- .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
- .338 Lapua Magnum
- long-range .300 Winchester Magnum
- 6.5-284 Norma
Who has Vihtavuori N570 today
Checked October 10In stock at 1 store — lowest in hand $59.05/lb (8 lb at Graf & Sons)
| Store | Size | Shelf | In hand /lb | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graf & Sons$23.50 hazmat per package | 8 lb | $434.99 | $59.05 | In stock ↗ |
| Graf & Sons$23.50 hazmat per package | 1 lb | $65.99 | $103.44 | In stock ↗ |
| Bruno Shooters Supply$26.95 hazmat + $19.95 ship | 8 lb | $400.99 | $55.99 | Out |
| Bruno Shooters Supply$26.95 hazmat + $19.95 ship | 1 lb | $58.99 | $105.89 | Out |
“In hand” is the shelf price plus that store’s hazmat fee and shipping, spread over one container. Stock is checked once a day — confirm on the store’s page before ordering. Compare all powders →
Official Vihtavuori load data →
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Vihtavuori |
|---|---|
| Product family | Vihtavuori N500 High Energy |
| Status | Currently produced |
| Application | rifle |
| Grain form | extruded |
| Composition | double-base |
| Temperature stable | Not marketed as temperature-stable |
| Burn-rate position | 191 of 198 (fastest = 1) — what this means |
| Typical cartridges | 300 Winchester Magnum, 300 Remington Ultra Magnum, 338 Lapua Magnum, 6.5-284 Norma |
Grain shape
Large extruded grains, neutral-burning, impregnated with nitroglycerine plus non-energetic additives meant to raise velocity without raising chamber pressure or wear. The kernels are big enough that a volumetric measure will not throw them consistently, and that is the manufacturer's own position rather than a preference.
Why geometry decides burn rate more than chemistry does: Shape Is the Product.
Vihtavuori explicitly warns that N570 shows signs of increased pressure in heavy loads at deep sub-zero temperatures and does not recommend it there, while noting the other N500 powders stay safe below freezing. See the manufacturer's product page for the exact temperature limit. The kernels are large enough that Vihtavuori advises weighing charges rather than throwing them from a measure. Grains are impregnated with nitroglycerine plus non-energetic additives intended to raise velocity without raising chamber pressure or wear.
Burn rate
The slowest of the N500 high-energy powders; only the .50 BMG powders sit below it on Vihtavuori's chart.
Chart agreement: consistent across the three charts that list it Ranked by: Hodgdon, Vihtavuori, Wolfe/LoadData.
Powders charted near it — neighbours on the chart are not substitutes, and adjacency tells you nothing about what charge either one takes:
- IMR Enduron 8133 (position 188)
- Vihtavuori N568 (position 189)
- Ramshot LRT (position 190)
- Alliant Reloder 33 (position 192)
- Vihtavuori 24N41 (position 193)
- Hodgdon H50BMG (position 194)
Sources
The specifications above come from Vihtavuori's own published documentation, linked below. The two “RCM's read” sections are ours, not theirs — our assessment of what this powder is like to load, drawn from its published characteristics and from what handloaders consistently report. No manufacturer endorses them and no source below backs them. If you think we have one wrong, tell us — we would rather fix it.