Vihtavuori 3N38 Smokeless Handgun Powder

Vihtavuori 3N38 is a premium single-base smokeless handgun powder developed specifically for high-performance competition shooting. Positioned slightly slower-burning than 3N37 in the Vihtavuori N300 series, it is designed to deliver the high velocities and consistent pressures required for 9mm Major, .38 Super and other full-power competition handgun loads used in IPSC and USPSA Open Division.

Manufactured in Finland to Vihtavuori's exacting standards, 3N38 features a fine tubular grain that meters exceptionally well through powder measures, helping produce highly consistent charge weights and excellent shot-to-shot uniformity. Its clean-burning formulation reduces fouling while maintaining reliable performance over extended shooting sessions, making it a popular choice among serious competitive handloaders seeking maximum consistency and accuracy.

Features

• Premium single-base smokeless handgun powder
• Medium-slow burn rate for high-performance pistol loads
• Excellent choice for 9 mm Major competition ammunition
• Well suited to IPSC and USPSA Open Division loads
• Fine tubular grain for outstanding metering consistency
• Clean-burning formulation helps minimise fouling
• Delivers excellent velocity consistency and accuracy
• Suitable for a wide range of centre-fire handgun cartridges
• Manufactured in Finland to strict quality standards
• Available in multiple container sizes depending on market availability

Suitable Cartridges

Vihtavuori publishes reloading data for numerous handgun cartridges, including:

• 9 mm Luger (9×19)
• 9×21
• 9×23 Winchester
• .38 Super Auto
• .357 SIG
• .38 Special
• .357 Magnum
• .40 S&W
• 10 mm Auto
• .44 Remington Magnum
• .45 ACP
• .45 Colt
• .454 Casull

Important Information

Always consult the latest Vihtavuori Reloading Guide or official Reloading Data Tool before handloading. Use only published data for the specific cartridge and components, and follow recognised safe handloading practices.

Barry & Son recommendation

• N120 – Fast-burning rifle powder for small-capacity cartridges and selected sporting applications
• N310 – Very fast-burning handgun powder for precision target loads
• N320 – Fast-burning, versatile handgun powder for target and competition loads
• N330 – Medium-fast handgun powder for target and competition applications
• N340 – Medium-burning handgun powder for a broad range of applications
• 3N37 – Competition-oriented handgun powder for selected higher-performance loads
• 3N38 – Slower-burning competition handgun powder for specialised applications