Win231/HP38

[Kevin G]

Been reading for years here HP38 & Win231 are one and the same.
I've been given a 1 pound container of HP38. I've got a partial 8 pound jug of Win231 I am thinking of blending the HP38 into.
I welcome any reliable advice.
Seasons Greetings, Kevin G

 

[SLT223]

Been reading for years here HP38 & Win231 are one and the same.
I've been given a 1 pound container of HP38. I've got a partial 8 pound jug of Win231 I am thinking of blending the HP38 into.
I welcome any reliable advice.
Seasons Greetings, Kevin G

What's the upside?

 

[Sevens]

The upside is that if there is -ANY- difference between the two that you have, you have effectively eliminated that difference, assuming you mix it extremely well.

The downside is that if there is -ANY- difference between the two, you now have nine pounds of a powder that you may never have ever again.

However in reality, I am a true believer in the idea that in handgun loads, from typical handguns, at typical distances from typical shooters, there ain't no way you would ever notice a difference whether you do this or do not do this.

I will add that when I near the end of one container of powder and I have just maybe a quarter pound left... oh yes, I absolutely mix it in with my next 8-lb'er that I open. And a couple hundred thousand rounds and three decades in, this has worked exceptionally well for me.

 

[tominboise]

What Sevens said.

 

[Kevin G]

Thanks
Kevin G

 

[Green Frog]

I'm with the "don't mix" contingent. I like to work out of a pound can anyway, so I'd use most or all of that first. I might "decant" some out of the big jug to refill the little one when empty or nearly so, just to continue using the smaller, more handy sized can. I would put a tag on the refilled small can identifying the lot from which the powder came. Probably overly cautious, but that's what I would be likely to do for my own peace of mind.

Froggie

 

[oysterer]

makes no sense, why mix?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have never bought any HP-38, If I didn't have a stockpile, I might try some. But for 40 years WW231 and Unique are my primary handgun powders!

If you have a 357 Mag Lever Action Rifle, and Like heavy bullets (180 gr JSP Hornady), Look into 4227! Then I used that load in N-Frames also and found it fantastic out of a 4" 28-2 and a 686 4". But too much discomfort for K-frames!

Ivan

I loaded Cowboy loads with WW231 in 45 Colt, 45 Schofield, 44 Special, 44 Russian &, 38 Special, as well as my every day 45 ACP load.

I loaded 124 LRN 9mm for my full auto MAC-10 to the tune of 20,000 rounds, every single one with WW231!

 

[robertrwalsh]

It SHOULD work, but I am also of the DON'T MIX school.

 

[rwsmith]

Hornady himself....

....Steve maybe, can't remember which one said that the two powders are exactly the same. The reason both exist is brand loyalty. He said the reloading community is full of people that think 231 is great and HP38 stinks and vice versa.

I don't mix powders but in this case I might, if I had a good reason. I would use a powder down to where I couldn't fill fill a hopper with the remainder and throw it in with the next jug when they are the same powder.

 

[stansdds]

I am not a proponent of blending unless it is from two containers of the same powder and same lot number. Even then, why do it? HP38 and W-231 are the same powders, have been for decades. I see no logical reason for blending them, but if blended, I doubt there would be any change in how the powders burn.

 

[shocker]

Operational discipline says don't mix, even if you think they are the same.
I mean Accurate has powders with 4064 and 4350 in the name. Would I mix or freely substitute those with IMRs? Uh, no.

 

[CH4]

I don't have a powder dispenser, I use the Lee scoops and load one round at a time - I've been doing it this way for decades. When I get down to where I don't have enough for a full scoop, I will blend the remaining few grains into the next pound. If I have an 8 pounder I'll refill the one pounder, blending in the few remaining grains. However, I can see blending your last few ounces if you need to fill your powder measure to insure you have enough to complete a batch.

 

[rosewood]

Operational discipline says don't mix, even if you think they are the same.
I mean Accurate has powders with 4064 and 4350 in the name. Would I mix or freely substitute those with IMRs? Uh, no.

That is because they are different powders.

 

[rosewood]

I see the point. They HP38 and W231 are the same powders, but they could be of a different lot. Mixing would guarantee a consistent "new" lot.

However, I agree with Sevens, not enough difference in a pistol to worry about it.

Rosewood

 

[glenwolde]

I don't mix in the container. In theory if you always mix then your current container contains some trace of every canister you've used. Overtime, again in theory, this could lead to unknown consequences.

When I get to the point where I can go no lower in the hopper of my powder measure I assess. If I plan on continue loading enough to use up what's left I pour the new on top and the old is used up. If I'm stopping soon I'll remove the old to it's canister and break open a new canister. I'll use the old up next session in the same manner, new on top of old.

I also re-verify weight once I get beyond the old in the hopper and into the new. I also always verify weight at the end of a session anyway.

I should probably toss the leftover on the geraniums but I'm too cheap.

 

[Spokes]

No mix please....

 

[Johnnu2]

You can't get more safe than: DON'T MIX ANY POWDER.....period.
IMHO as always,
J/

 

[cfplinker]

E-mail Hodgdon giving the lot numbers, ask if they can be mixed, and be guided by their advice.

 

[jjfitch]

E-mail Hodgdon giving the lot numbers, ask if they can be mixed, and be guided by their advice.

This would be the waste of a good "dime"! You know the answer will be based on LIABILITY!

In the front of every loading manual I've ever read (blasphemy I know) there is a caution to "never" mix powders even if they appear to be the same!

Smiles,