Accidental mix

[federali]

I'm not advocating using this accidentally blended powder. Yet, in theory, if slower powder is accidentally mixed into a faster powder, what would cause the kaboom if we build our reloads with data for the faster powder?

I'm also thinking of reloaders who have taken an old lot of, say, IMR 4320 and combined it with a newer lot of the same powder. Old powder can sometimes result in lower pressures. In theory, we now have powders with different burning rates combined. Yet, I've never heard of a kaboom by combining old and new lots of the same powder.

 

[bwxmas]

I'd shoot it..
Edit to add.
I agree with all the warnings, but I personally would shoot it

 

[bedbugbilly]

That sounds like an excellent mix to fertilize the pumpkins next year . . .

Your hands, eyesight, fingers and all body parts are not worth the cost of what you throw away . . . chalk it yup to "experience" and walk away.

I have about five different powders that I use . . . I learned a long time ago to store them separate from my reloading area . . . in a cabinet in another room. I have one strict rule that I do follow . . . only one kind of powder in my reloading area at at time. Sometiemes a pain but it sure helps to keep 'em straight.

Good luck and sorry it happened . . .

 

[Sawfish]

Use the simple method. Is the deductible on your insurance policy more than the cost of a can of powder?

 

[ken158]

Lesson learned... anyone here (that also goes by an alias) that provides internet advise of "shoot it" has given your information worth the value of what you paid for it...

 

[4barrel]

Don't pour it out. My canon needs it. I put unknown powder in my black powder rifle & stuff it full of toilet paper & shoot wasp nests.

 

[blujax01]

Ask yourself this:

"Is it worth the $50 you may save in salvaging 3+ pounds of an inferior powder mix (that will make you cringe every time you pull the trigger) to take the chance?"

Personally, I don't own any $50 revolvers. Nor can I even begin to find a replacement for that amount of money should one experience spontaneous disassembly.

 

[Squarebutt]

Agreed that mixing powders is not a good thing, but I can't imagine that a little Blue Dot mixed in would blow up your guns.
I live a little north of you. I use 700X for very light target pistol loads, and if you want to ditch it, I would trade you for something else.

 

[fredj338]

Duplex & triplex loadings are not referring to blended powders but layering powders. The problem w/ blending, you have no idea what is what. Why I said, in a SHTF, I would shake it up & use 700x load data. This is not SHTF. FWIW, lot to lot variations are never so great as to be two completely diff powders like 700X & BD. So mixing the same powder of a diff lot, not a big deal.

 

[A.O.]

I agree with those who say to mix it,and try it with the 700X parameters.. toss it in the garden... no way!!

Heck at least run a big line of it along your driveway and light it!! And yeah, I might be a little crazy.. but to me that's a good thing!

 

[Engineer1911]

Use 700x data, load it, and shoot it.

Or don't, it is your gun, your hand, your decision. You can make a decision?

ONE and ONLY ONE powder container on the reloading bench at a time. This is an example why powder is stored at the front of the house on a shelf, and my reloading is done at the back of the house with ONE CAN OF POWDER AT A TIME on the reloading bench ! ! !

 

[David R]

 

[Doubless]

David R, just exactly which two powders did you mix, in which proportions, and which load data did you use? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[waynewhitacre]

Have been there have done that. I threw it away. Got smart and every time I fill the powder dispenser I mark it with a piece of masking tape as to the powder type & grains I am dispensing. As to duplex & triplex loads they are layered not mixed.

 

[federali]

Another Thought

I wonder how often reloaders, when changing from one powder to another, did not do a thorough enough job of purging the existing powder from the powder throw before introducing the next powder? To purge mine, I need to have an artists' paint brush available to reach into the throw and brush off powder that sits on a small ledge where the plastic body of the throw meets the die-cast body.

I guess we can never really know.

 

[David R]

David R, just exactly which two powders did you mix, in which proportions, and which load data did you use? Inquiring minds want to know...

It was an unknown reload.

When I mixed powders, I dumped the powder and called it stupid tax. Now I only keep one powder in the house.

I have had enough "Incidents" in my life not to ask for any more. Ditch it.

David

 

[TAROMAN]

Did it for the first time today.
Titegroup into AutoComp
Misery loves company, I guess.

 

[muddocktor]

I have a powder magazine in my reloading room. And when loading, only 1 powder comes out at a time. After I finish with that powder, the excess is stored back in the original container it came in and returned to the powder magazine (really a big wooden chest with locking doors) before another powder comes out. I don't think I've ever mixed powders such as the OP did, but my Dad taught me to handle powder this way since I was a kid and it stuck.

And I would probably fertilize a pecan tree or 2 with a mix such as happened here. Life is too short to take that kind of chance shooting it.

 

[arjay]

My reloading space is cramped now so the powders sit on shelves above the bench.The powder I'm using stays on the bench until I'm done with that batch.

 

[dswancutt]

Have been there have done that. I threw it away. Got smart and every time I fill the powder dispenser I mark it with a piece of masking tape as to the powder type & grains I am dispensing. As to duplex & triplex loads they are layered not mixed.

I have never mixed powder, and recently began doing the same as waynewhitacre. It's cheap insurance on top of never having more than one powder on the reloading table.