So true. been doing it for over 40 years. No big deal. Yet some people are really besmirked by it.
Any body mix different lots of the same powder
- Thread starter Abbynormal
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So true. been doing it for over 40 years. No big deal. Yet some people are really besmirked by it.
Just a thought; I have read, on a couple different occasions, that powder manufacturers hold their powders' performance/specs to 4% of the original specs for the powder. So, in my thinking, unless a powder has undergone a drastic change (and is not renamed or highly publicized)my lot manufactured in 2000 will be within 4% of the same powder produced in 2020. And of course, my accuracy and velocity testing is done with a new lot and mixing has never shown any wild swings in performance. Yeah, I'll pour the ounce left in the bottom of one jug into the new jug...
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If what powder is left in a can will not produce my next reload - it gets dumped in the yard. Just not worth a problem to be too cheap.
For loads up to midrange I don't worry about mixing the same powder from different lots. For loads approaching maximum I don't and I work the loads back up for a new lot.
With that being said, if you're unwilling to mix different lots of the SAME powder, are you using the same charge weight for the new lot as the old without working up the load again? I don't see any difference myself.
With that being said, if you're unwilling to mix different lots of the SAME powder, are you using the same charge weight for the new lot as the old without working up the load again? I don't see any difference myself.
I would be concerned with mixing if it's a max load. Looking at reloading manuals I see the same powders labeled differently, i.e. Win760 and H414, have different max loads. Win760 and H414 are the same powder, just labeled differently. Why the different max charge? Because the tested powders came from different lots.
rkittine
Member
First question is what do you do when you get a new batch of the same powder? Do you Re-Work up loads or not? Do you use some type of power thrower to charge your cases or do you weight the powder.
For pistol powders (And shotgun powders) if I get a new batch of powder that is from a different lot, I check the weight I get by volume against what I have from a different lot. So say, you XXX bushing throws 1.6 grains of Bullseye and you new lot get the same charge weight from the same busing than I don't worry about it. Run out the old or mix. But if there is an appreciable difference then not only don't I mix the powders, but I run some additional load work ups.
Bob
For pistol powders (And shotgun powders) if I get a new batch of powder that is from a different lot, I check the weight I get by volume against what I have from a different lot. So say, you XXX bushing throws 1.6 grains of Bullseye and you new lot get the same charge weight from the same busing than I don't worry about it. Run out the old or mix. But if there is an appreciable difference then not only don't I mix the powders, but I run some additional load work ups.
Bob
Nemo288
Member
I used to do it all the time when using W296 and H110.
Having been told by Hodgdon they are the exact same thing, I even mixed those together when running low.
Never noticed any problems but ran mainly just one load.
24 gr. 296/110 - 240 gr. bullet - 44 magnum.
I have moved away from ball powder altogether but will still mix the end of one canister with the next one for revolver loads.
Most of those are from the same lot however as I got as much as I could during/after the big shortages.
I will NOT mix similar powders I know to be different like the 4198's 4227's where H & IMR do not have the same exact properties.
H4227 is gone anyway but I have both 4198's and they even look different.
I find H4198 to be a bit slower (and has temp. comp.) than the IMR version I started with in the 444.
I have also not mixed (yet) Universal from Australia and Canada but if only a few grains are left probably will.
Bottom line is, yes, I'll do it but with eyes wide open.
Having been told by Hodgdon they are the exact same thing, I even mixed those together when running low.
Never noticed any problems but ran mainly just one load.
24 gr. 296/110 - 240 gr. bullet - 44 magnum.
I have moved away from ball powder altogether but will still mix the end of one canister with the next one for revolver loads.
Most of those are from the same lot however as I got as much as I could during/after the big shortages.
I will NOT mix similar powders I know to be different like the 4198's 4227's where H & IMR do not have the same exact properties.
H4227 is gone anyway but I have both 4198's and they even look different.
I find H4198 to be a bit slower (and has temp. comp.) than the IMR version I started with in the 444.
I have also not mixed (yet) Universal from Australia and Canada but if only a few grains are left probably will.
Bottom line is, yes, I'll do it but with eyes wide open.
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I have when loading 300 Win. Mag loaded 75 gr of powder. If the last of that canister held 67 gr, I would add enough to round up to 75 which would be around 10%. I would then load 10 cartridges from the next lot and check accuracy and chrono them against the known reserve when I next shot. I would label the last cartridge loaded as practice ammo as it was mixed.
With pistol powders the charges are so small I don't mind tossing 3-9 grains.
With pistol powders the charges are so small I don't mind tossing 3-9 grains.
If the load I'm using is in the low end spectrum, I will make a test batch with the same load and chronograph it, see if functions, if it's accurate and if has the same point of impact. And, as I said, with BA9 I never get the same results.
If it's near max load I'll work it up again. No biggie, and I like having 5 fingers in my right hand and want to keep it that way .
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Cdog
Member
Precision rifle loading, no.
Plinking rounds, yep I'm guilty of not checking lot #'s before continuing.
I read the same book as the OP, but it has been one of those things that fell by the wayside over the years.
Plinking rounds, yep I'm guilty of not checking lot #'s before continuing.
I read the same book as the OP, but it has been one of those things that fell by the wayside over the years.
This! Plus 1.
GypsmJim
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No. Never.
And for a very, but really very, good reason. One of the powders I use the most, Vectan BA9 is inconsistent from lot to lot. I was told so in advance. And realized it was true when I opened a new lot and found out that the load I was using before (reliable accurate and mild), was still accurate and mild(er) but not reliable anymore.
Edit. Forgot to add. Point of impact was not the same either.
About 30 years ago I bought a really nice powder measure with a micrometer adjustment. The first thing I did was to do a calibration curve with each powder that I was using, and then plotted it on Excel. In every case the Rsq. was .999, so I know the measure was quite good.
To this day, every single new lot of powder still fits perfectly on those curves. I am amazed at the consistency of powders. When I want a charge I just look at the data and it dials in 1st try.
If I ever tried a powder that was inconsistent, I would never use it again.
Oh yes, I mix them all the time...
No. Never.
And for a very, but really very, good reason. One of the powders I use the most, Vectan BA9 is inconsistent from lot to lot. I was told so in advance. And realized it was true when I opened a new lot and found out that the load I was using before (reliable accurate and mild), was still accurate and mild(er) but not reliable anymore.
Edit. Forgot to add. Point of impact was not the same either.
I'm curious why anyone would use something inconsistent from lot to lot. How can you depend on your favorite load to work the next time? I confess, I've never heard of BA9, well frankly I've never heard of Vectan either. But I don't get out much. LOL!
There's a lot more folks admitting to mixing small amounts than I expected. I kinda thought I'd be more of a minority with my admission.
I'm curious why anyone would use something inconsistent from lot to lot. How can you depend on your favorite load to work the next time? I confess, I've never heard of BA9, well frankly I've never heard of Vectan either. But I don't get out much. LOL!
There's a lot more folks admitting to mixing small amounts than I expected. I kinda thought I'd be more of a minority with my admission.
It depends on the kind of accuracy you're looking for.
Nemo288
Member
Another perspective on pistol powders if you are talking percentages:
Throwing 10-20 grains into a 7000 gr. (or larger) canister then loading 7 grains into each cartridge
means you have around .2% of the old powder in there: 15/100ths of a grain.
That's less than the throwing error of most powder drops.
Most scales aren't that accurate either.
If you are dumping the tail end (one or 2 cartridges worth) of a lot into a full one you'll never be able to tell the difference.
Throwing 10-20 grains into a 7000 gr. (or larger) canister then loading 7 grains into each cartridge
means you have around .2% of the old powder in there: 15/100ths of a grain.
That's less than the throwing error of most powder drops.
Most scales aren't that accurate either.
If you are dumping the tail end (one or 2 cartridges worth) of a lot into a full one you'll never be able to tell the difference.
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smoothshooter
Member
What is "OBT" ?
Nemo288
Member
Oh Boy! This thread is gonna launch into the outfield.
I'll take the first stab:
Obsessive But Thoughtful?
Depends on the kind of accuracy you're aiming for.
Meaning what, exactly? What is the accuracy standard?
I'm genuinely curious about this ... my 9mm PPQs all group 2" at 50 yards, I have multiple 629's that will pop milk jugs at 100 yards all day long or my PRS rifles that are all sub 1/2 MOA. All of these rifles and pistols have done these things for many years and none have ever run factory loaded ammunition.
I guess my accuracy standards are just too low or I have no idea what I am doing.
I always pour the last of a can of powder into the next and mix very well by shaking and rotating vigorously.
