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Mixing powder lots

swd

swd

Silver $$ Contributor
I know it's taboo to the powder manufacturers but I also know many of us have mixed lots of the same powder for years. I just started to mix 2 lots of H4831SC and while doing it noticed one lot is the old green and one is the new black 4831. Both containers are "Extreme" lots. Should I shoot this or go buy some new powder?
 
Just my opinion , it meens nothing and if your gut says don't then don't... But I would just back off the charge on a few , go run them across your crono and see what happens.... If it won't shoot save it for range plinking days...OR just chunk it... To me as long as it's mixed well it's worth a try... Alot more people mix than will admit... When a pound starts getting to low to make a complete run or will not keep the powder thrower full enough to were I keep it so it stays consistent , I mix it with the next...

Follow your gut , if your not comfortable , just dump it... The old gut instinct is normally correct...
 
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I gave Hodgdon a call. The tech of course said I should test the different lots, but just mix them good and don't don't worry about the color difference. I ran a few across the chrono and the speed is right where it's supposed to be.
 
It's Called Blend. We have been mixing different powders for 10 + years. As an example, RE-10 and RE-15 to make RE-12 which is No longer available. You have to Know what you are doing to accomplish this,WITHOUT PROPER GUIDANCE DO NOT ATTEMPT IT !
We have also been testing Duplex loads. as an example H-322 and 18167(8208). A standard load is approximately 28.6. If you place the 322 on the bottom you will get one velocity and SD, if you reverse it you will get another velocity and S D . DO NOT TRY THIS ! There are years of testing behind these experiments.
 
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ClassCat said:
It's Called Blend. We have been mixing different powders for 10 + years. As an example, RE-10 and RE-15 to make RE-12 which is No longer available. You have to Know what you are doing to accomplish this, and without proper guidance DO NOT ATTEMPT IT.
 We have also been testing DUPLEX loads. as an example H-322 and 18167(8208). a standard load is around 28.6, 14.3 of each. If you place the 322 on the bottom you'll get one velocity and S D , if you reverse them you'll get a different velocity and S D.
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I'm not talking about blending different burn rates. I have zero interest in that. Just mixing 2 lots of the same brand and burn rate that have very different colors.
 
I mix odd lots of H414 and W760 together all the time. On the different colors, I'd want to shake it around real good each time I dipped into it in case it settles differently.
 
I've mixed a little Varget & had No trouble. - Both Lots were from the same year & I just carried on with the new on top of the old in my chargemaster. - Probably 10-15 rounds had mixed powder but they all shot just fine.
 
If I have part of a bottle of Maker's, and a part of a bottle of Jack, I won't mix them together, But if I have two partial bottles of Maker's, what difference does it make? Same with powder. H4350 and H4350 may vary a bit from lot to lot, but they are the same powder. Now IMHO that foolishness that Classcat is talking about sounds just enough out of the ordinary to be dangerous.
 
johnfred1965 said:
If I have part of a bottle of Maker's, and a part of a bottle of Jack, I won't mix them together, But if I have two partial bottles of Maker's, what difference does it make? Same with powder. H4350 and H4350 may vary a bit from lot to lot, but they are the same powder. Now IMHO that foolishness that Classcat is talking about sounds just enough out of the ordinary to be dangerous.
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Just the EDGE. I have won more wood with blended powders than you could imagine. B T W MIL specs on 223 are BLENDED POWDERS to meet the specs required. As i stressed in my post WITHOUT PROPER GUIDANCE DO NOT ATTEMPT IT !
 
JMO:

If the two lots have identical performance, there's no need to mix them. Just pour one on top of the other.

If they don't have identical performance, mixing them creates a third lot, and two transitions if you have more of the second lot on hand.

Finally, if I were to mix the two lots with, say, my mom's wooden spoon . . . that's unlikely to create an even mix.

So I don't mix them. I'll either continue on as if they were the same lot, or re-test the second lot depending on the application.
 
I have mixed the SAME powders from DIFFERENT LOTS for years without incident.
If you buy 8lbs of one LOT, then when it’s ALMOST gone, blending it into another LOT should pose no problem as the amount blended is so small.
I even blend the dregs from 1lb canisters nearing the end.

Cheers.
:)
 
well Ill throw this out... I have a dillon 650XL... and I go cranking away... and when the powder alarm goes off, I feed it more, and its different lots of the same powder all the time... and it all works fine..
 
swd said:
I know it's taboo to the powder manufacturers but I also know many of us have mixed lots of the same powder for years. I just started to mix 2 lots of H4831SC and while doing it noticed one lot is the old green and one is the new black 4831. Both containers are "Extreme" lots. Should I shoot this or go buy some new powder?
Click to expand...
Question? Why would you mix Lots if you are not out of the first lot? Just asking as I don't open a new can until it's gone?
 
I have done this a few times. Had an empty 8lb container. Bought some different 1lb containers from a few local stores of H1000. 7 total. Poured them all in there and shook it up. Made my own lot essentially.
 
To add to this, another reason to do it it if you want to buy individual pounds and the store had different lot numbers, you can buy whwtaver, go mix it and have your own lot.

I always do it. Never have had an issue.
 
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