SNPE Vectan SP 3

SNPE Vectan SP3 is a single-base, extruded nitrocellulose rifle powder produced in France. The "SNPE" designation refers to Société Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs, founded in 1971 as the French state-owned powder authority, whose civilian sporting propellants have long been marketed under the Vectan brand. Following industry consolidation, production moved into the Eurenco / Nobel Sport group, with manufacture continuing at historic French sites including Bergerac and Sorgues.
Within the Vectan SP series — a family of progressively slower-burning rifle powders running from roughly SP2 through SP13 — SP3 occupies the medium-fast burn-rate region. On standard burn-rate charts it is typically placed alongside VihtaVuori N133, Reload Swiss RS40, Accurate 2200, IMR 8208 XBR, and Hodgdon Benchmark, making it a reasonable functional peer to several common North American medium rifle powders.
SP3 is intended primarily for small- to medium-capacity centerfire rifle cartridges. Common published applications include .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22 Hornet, .22-250 Remington, and 7.62×39, with some secondary use in light varmint loads. Reloaders generally report consistent ignition with standard small-rifle primers and good metering behavior.