Vihtavuori N133, a choice of top benchrest shooters

Originally developed for 5.56 Nato cartridge, Vihtavuori’s N133 is a multipurpose powder for centerfire .22 cartridges and PPC caliber cartridges.

N133 is a tubular powder with grain dimensions of 1,1 mm length and 0,8 mm diameter. The burn rate is medium in the scale of our rifle powders, and it works like a charm with .223 Remington, and practical shooters and other using the AR-15 will know the utmost quality of the N133. It is also a supreme choice with 6 PPC standard rifle shooting, and benchrest shooters all over the world rely on the combination of the Lapua .220 Russian brass and Vihtavuori N133 powder. The N133 is probably the most popular powder in 100 meters and 200 meters bench rest shooting competitions: a countless number of competitions have been won using this powder!

True testimonial by Jack Neary, gold medalist at the 2011 World Benchrest Championships

Jack Neary with Evil Roy at SASS End of Trail 2017

Consistency is the key to Success in Benchrest

In Benchrest competition, consistent, good groups are the key to success. While there are a number of smokeless powder brand choices for Benchrest competition use, Vihtavuori N133 powder stands alone in providing consistent, ease of rifle load tuning performance.

Many competitive smokeless powders will provide a load that will perform well in a very “narrow-window” of conditions. However, Vihtavuori N133 has earned the distinction as the clear choice of top Benchrest competitors, as Vihtavuori has amassed more World Records and Gold Medals in both National and International Benchrest competitions than all other powders combined!

While a very proud member of U.S. 2011 Benchrest team, I used Vihtavuori N133 powder to compete at the 2011 World Benchrest Championships held in Volmerange Les Mines, France. During the Heavy Varmint 100 Meter class on the second day of the world championship competition, I saw that my Bartlein gain-twist barrel and BT bullet combination, fueled with a warm load of N133, created consistent and very good groups through the first 4 matches of the day. So good, in fact, I had a chance of breaking the HV100 Meter World Benchrest Federation world record – only if my load would continue to perform as the conditions and elements of the day were changing. 

As I carefully picked my way through the conditions on my last, fifth group to shoot in a full-value 3 o’clock right-to-left push condition, I found my first 4-shots in a very small .100” group. With one shot left to go and less than 1 minute left on the clock, I carefully waited for my 3 o’clock right-to-left condition to return… With confidence in my N133 powder and a small prayer, the last shot pierced the group without enlarging it at all!

With my final group measuring only a .116”, the Heavy Varmint 100 meter record would be mine with a final official .1600” aggregate! My N133 powder load stayed in tune all day long.  Not once did I need to change my load, despite rising temperatures and increasing wind conditions throughout the day.

You too can experience the same success! Whether you’re shooting in your local club Benchrest match or at the World Championship stage, Vihtavuori N133 smokeless powder will provide you with the consistency needed to reach top results.

Use the very Best – Use Vihtavuori Smokeless Powders

Jack Neary

Vihtavuori offers tested loading data for N133 powder for the following calibers:

.204 Ruger – .221 Remington Fireball – .222 Rem. – .223 Rem. – .22 PPC-USA – .22-250 Rem. – 6 mm PPC-USA – 6mm Br Norma – 6,5 mm Grendel – 6,5 x 47 Lapua – .30-30 Win. – .300 Savage – .308 Win. – 7,62 x 53R – .30-06 Spring. – .303 British – 8 x 57 IS (8mm Mauser) – .45-70 Government – .458 Win. Mag. – 7 mm TCU – 7 mm BR Remington – 7 mm GJW

The powder is available in 1 lbs, 1 kg and 3,5 kg containers. In USA, 8 lbs canisters are also available.

For updates on the reloading data and more info, check out the N133 powder page!