Combined powder use?

[Rule3]

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.

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!!.

 

[fredj338]

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.

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

 

[glenwolde]

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

 

[alwslate]

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.

 

[Alk8944]

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!

 

[amazingflapjack]

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

 

[2hawk]

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>

 

[Mad_Charlie]

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!

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...

 

[Maddog 521]

The older you get, the more you forget.

A fifty dollar bill will fix your problem.

 

[Fishslayer]

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

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.

 

[Moe Mentum]

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...

 

[k22fan]

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.

 

[springer99]

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?

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.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

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.

 

[alwslate]

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?

 

[Biggfoot44]

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.