For the first time in 35 years I did a really stupid thing. (Well maybe not the first time, but never this stupid). In emptying my powder measure I put about a 1/3 of a lb of 231 into about 3/4 of a lb of WST. I just grabbed the wrong container from my shelf of powders and stuck it under my measure while I backed the adjustment stem all the way out and threw all the remaining amounts into the WST container. I now have about a lb of mixed powder. I did call Winchester propellants (division of Hodgdon) and spoke to a tech there, and asked it there was any use for this other than fertilizer. He offered "rapid fire starter" as an option.

What a waste of scarce 231 and WST. I'm thinking of revamping my powder shelf and relocating everything so no two similar containers sit near a similar one.

Anyone know any other use for this mess?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Well I guess you could use it for a very slow w231 ............?

Any thing but the 231 !!

Sorry about that.

I'm not surprised that they told you to ditch it due to legal ramifications. Since they're both handgun powders it could be argued that you could take the starting load data for the faster of the two powders and work up loads from there....me?, I don't think it would be worth the trouble so I agree that it should go out in one last blaze of glory

It's trash. I leave the container I'm using on the bench to avoid this. It also allows you to stare at the can while loading to be sure you're using the right powder.

Can comes down, hopper filled, can stays by press.

you could write your name in the grass with it and light it off. It would look interesting for a while. Have a garden hose handy and take a picture.

Remember, there is no way to assure you have a uniform mixture if you decide to use it.

I keep my powder in a separate room and only have the container of what I'm using near the press.

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Foster Positivity.

For me one can of powder sits on the reloading bench and the rest remain on the shelf. The can on the bench does not return to the shelf until the powder dispenser has been emptied.

I have never used WST, but a quick look at internet load data suggests the load data is not significantly different from 231. I wouldn't try to work up any 9mm or 40 S&W loads, but I'm willing to bet 38 special or even 45 ACP might work assuming you can find loads with overlapping powder data.

Common sense says not to risk a $500 gun for $20 worth of powder, but...

I know it's wrong to encourage the use of mixed powders and I would definitely not recommend it to anyone who is not absolutely sure of what he was doing, but I did the same thing a few months back when I was making test buckshot loads with 1# containers of Red Dot and Unique. On my metallic reloading bench I make it a habit of only one powder container on the bench at a time and dump the powder back into the container after each session. This happened on the shotgun reloading table which is a lot smaller with no space for the powder container. After seeing what I did , I blended the powder really well, calculated the density from the 8# jugs from which the powders came from and figured I had a mixture of 2:1 Unique:Red Dot, about 2/3 of a pound of the stuff.

From my loading experience, I knew that the volume-energy of Unique and Red Dot were almost identical in my 40 S&W loads. The powder measure setting for 5 grains Unique was nearly identical to 4 grains of Red Dot and they both gave me about the same MV in my M&P 40. I knew that the Unique gave me lower pressures, but the Red Dot was a little cleaner burning because it produced higher peak pressure (23,000 psi compared to 17,000 psi with Unique according to Quickload). I plugged in the numbers to Quickload using numbers weighted 1/3 Red Dot ant 2/3 Unique to see what range I could load this mixture with.

I started low with 4 grains (worst case 100% Red Dot) and worked up to 5 grains (worst case 100% Unique) and found that the mixed powder performs pretty much like pure Unique but burns cleaner with fewer unburned flakes and less soot probably due to slightly higher peak pressures.

I typically load my 40 S&W in the region of 75% of SAAMI max pressures and never get anywhere near the peak so even if Quickload is flawed in its calculations, it's not off by too much. It usually predicts MV's within 10% so I typically load to 75% max for an extra margin of safety. I usually just make sure I am above 10,000 psi for a good clean burn.

If you have an unknown powder but are sure it is meant to be used within the load range of what you're shooting, you can work up a safe load. It may not be optimum but if you stay well below max for either powder, a mixture of both will probably be usable. After all, most powders are blends and if you buy surplus military or pulldown powders, they typically give you a "start" point and the rest is up to you. So long as you stay conservative, you can use the powder safely.

Now if it were a fast and slow pistol powder like W231/W296, Red Dot/Blue Dot, or a rifle and pistol powder that got mixed, it would have gone into the flower bed.

Like, you know, the witch doctor that dances around then throws stuff on the fire to make it flare up and smoke.

Or. Do what reddog says.

I'm going to PM you because I don't want to post this generally.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

If it were a shtf & the only powder I had, I would shake it up well & work up some loads. It isn't though, it's just about losing $20 worth of powder. Law food my friend.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

It actually is quite diff. The issue though, it changes the burn characteristics of both if Mixed together. Why it's not a good idea to try & extrapolate unless it is an emergency. If it were no ammo vs the risk in a zombie apocalypse, well I am developing loads with your new *** powder.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Might be useful, but is the hassle and potential danger worth $20 to you?
I'd dump it.

I have 1.5" x 3" cards I've made up with the names of the powders I use and put them in the powder dump when I pour in the powder.

Not that I'm getting old & forgetful,, But I check the name on the card and the jug before I add more powder.. Or before I empty the dump back in the jug. Or if there is some powder in the dump and I go back in a couple days ,, I know what is in the dump.

Some time ago, I almost made a similar mistake. That's when I made the cards.. Over the years I have found, sometimes it just makes sense to double or triple check myself..

Years ago I remember an article about a .454 Casull triplex load, using three different powders..
I thought it was scary just reading the article..
The 231 / WST should make a pretty fire..

I did a similar thing only with a rifle powder and a handgun powder.

You know the correct thing to do.

You will sleep better,

Burning up a pile is better than fertilizer it's more fun!. Besides it is really not a good fertilizer especially this time of year.

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Still Running Against the Wind

That works for me.

I use removable labels, they go right onto the face or cap of the powder measure whenever I switch powders. Only way to f this up is be asleep or under the influence! I have three presses on the bench, three powder measures, so tracking powder is realllllly important.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I do all the things you all recommended, I just grabbed the wrong Winchester container when returning the powder back to the container. I feel good that I realized it as soon as I started screwing the lid back on the container. It now has a large label on the container, DON'T USE, MIXED POWDER!!!

Since I have over 20 lbs of powder on my shelf, including plenty of 231 and WST, this will be set aside to next spring to fertilize my wife's flower bed.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

You've heard of wine charms? I hereby claim patent to powder charms

Sorry for your loss. We all make mistakes.....

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

I've heard this but how far would a pound of powder go? Maybe if you were discarding an 8 lb jug.... Anyway, as it degrades (over what period of time I don't know) it gives off nitrogen from the nitrated cellulose, which is good but how much good is it going to do? It's probably better to say, "Throw it outside, it won't hurt grass or plants."

Now what would be REALLY cool is that if I could buy a 50 lb sack of Scotts Turf Builder and use it as gun powder. I would probably be on the NSA radar for making a fertilizer bomb.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

As you lie awake at night wondering if you threw away the most accurate combination in the history of handloading....

I don't think I can add anything that hasn't been brought up. In over 35 years, I've never had this happen, and in these times, I wouldn't be happy if I did. I'm not one to take chances, so I wouldn't use it; I would probably wait till dusk and make some fireworks. I don't have a green thumb, so lighting up the night would be more fun! :-)

It really is NOT good fertilizer and you will run the risk of "burning" up your Wife's flowers, and that is worse than losing 1lb of powder.

Pour it in a pile and torch it. It's fun, goes up really really fast!!.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Now you've done it, has is all over this one. Fwiw, about 1400rds in that #.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Well....it is cold enough for a bonfire....

I've been lucky to have never done any thing like that so far. I can't
tell you what to do but I know what I would do if I mixed two powders
like WST and 231 with similar burning rates. I would shake the
container throughly to be sure of a good mix and use it for light
plinking loads in low pressure rounds like the 38 spl. It's your decision
but you should know by now what kind of responses you'll get if you
mention it on here.

H Richard,

The next thing I would do, instead of calling Hodgdon, is go right to the source! Call the Manufacturer, not the distributor. Call St. Marks Powders, (850) 925-6111, and ask to speak with one of the small arms propellant manufacturing engineers. I have before, and had no trouble at all getting an authoritative answer. My bet, if you really push for the "real" answer, is you will be told to blend well, use the 231 data and verify with your chronograph!

After all, it isn't like you mixed 231 and HS-7!

I only use Unique. I don't load rifle ammo any more-so I can mix all I want!

They let you burn your leaves there?
Maybe this:
<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wFu2RwZe1J0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

One of the main things that I see is that as you are running your thrower one powder might "settle out" more than the other.

So, if you shoot it, go for the lowest charge listed and keep an eye on things and hope you don't lose one...

Jeez,,I dunno, I haven't tried that particular combination yet

I would want my Ruger to "test" though...

The older you get, the more you forget.

A fifty dollar bill will fix your problem.

Yup. I have CRAFT and have found this works... plus my garage gets really hot in summer & cold in winter.

Thankfully I only had to discard a small amount of powder when I learned my lesson.

...and yes. The powder is fertilizer. No way would I go mixing powders.

The big mistake would have been if you didn't realize it, and loaded some bullets with it.... Your mistake, can be easily corrected, just toss it and buy some more...

The proper thing to do is throw it out. However, if you are shooting a lot I'd blend it well then assemble what you estimate to be 750 fps .38 special target loads then fire them in your Model 28 or large frame Ruger Blackhawk. The margin of safety in cylinder strength would be so great that there is no significant risk. Locally firing powder puff .38s in large revolvers is very popular in cowboy matches and various timed matches for modern style revolvers.

A simple change in procedure is to ONLY have the powder bottle in use on the bench at any one time, and empty the measure each time after a load session..

As far as what you have now? Let's see............... we have $20'ish worth of powder that might product an unknown/unsafe product? Throw it in the garden for fertilizer.

Like many others have said, one can on the bench at one time. Some rules can never be broken.

I too like to sit and star at the can while I load. It gives me a reminder as I check the load that things are working correctly and properly.

The mixed powder? Dump on the lawn. It is fertilizer afterall.

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SWCA 1646

Lets see now, your can of WST held about 3/4 lb of powder into which
you poured about 1/3 lb of a slightly slower powder. So now the can
has slightly over 1 lb of a mix that averaged out would be very slightly
slower than WST. If you continue loading with it using WST data just
exactly how is this going to create some disastrous problem?

Don't try the 'rapid Firestarter" thing. Someone I know tried using using pistol powder to star a fire on purpose, and it ended up involving helicopter rides, and burn units.