Mixing powder

OU812

Handloader
Apr 18, 2006
2,099
2
A little back ground info. I have 4 bottles of unopened Retumbo but all 4 bottles have different lot numbers. I'm thinking of mixing all 4 together to have essentially 1 lot of powder to make load development easier.

So what is the general thought on this thought?
 
I would load a few rounds from each lot and shoot them over the chronograph. The two lots of retumbo that I have tried were very close to each other. Maybe yours are, too. If they all produce essentially the same velocity, as my two lots did, then you wouldn't even have to worry about it...
 
I'm far too unwilling to be a test pilot to do that. If you follow established protocol,and rework when switching, you'll only be out a few rounds worth of charges. If the burn rates are not close enough to keep a good load good, mixing them will create an unstable mixture because you can't ensure homogeneity of the mixture and consequently the burn rate.
 
I'll be a contrary indicator--I mix powder lots to even them out. Typically I will mix a 1-lb container with an 8-lb container. Then I'll pour from the 1-lb container into the powder dispenser and refill the 1-lb container from the 8-lb container as necessary. I have not seen any issues with the mixing.
 
I have homogenized different lots of the same powder, nothing weird or unpredictable happened and I don't see why it ever would as long as you're not blending some old IMR4895 from the 1960s with IMR4895 produced last week, for example. Who knows WHAT differences there would be between the two!

I talked to a Hodgdon tech about it one day before I blended some H4831SC from the late 90s with some H4831SC from about 2003. He answered my leading questions in the affirmative, but when I asked him "since you said "a," "b," and "c" are true then "d" (blending lots) must be fine." He was quick to respond by saying "I did not say that," which I took to mean he was not permitted to say that. After carefully considering what he told me I concluded that "d" was indeed true.

I routinely blend different lots of the same powder in order to have one homogeneous lot and I wouldn't do so if I thought there was even a remote possibility of something bad happening as a result.
 
I mix same powders from different lots when one can is low I empty it into a full can. My loads aren't full tilt and I haven't seen any ill results.
 
I mix em as well. Usually I'll make sure there mixed up well, but if its the same powder, I don't worry much about it. Haven't ever noted anything weird or odd.
 
I only load on a progressive press so when the powder measure gets low, I pour in powder from a new canister. I've had no issues with pressure or changes in accuracy.
 
Bill,

I have mixed that last of one can with another in the past.
I think I would just use one at a time,

JD338
 
I have mixed different lots of H4350 on several occasions without issue. Mixing different burn rates of powders however is where i dont venture.
 
I only load on a progressive press so when the powder measure gets low, I pour in powder from a new canister. I've had no issues with pressure or changes in accuracy
Same thing happens when you get to the bottom of a can and need to continue loading, I just open a new can, mix the remainder of the old can into the new and keep loading. I've never had any problems doing this.
 
joelkdouglas":1qgpf6up said:
I'll be a contrary indicator--I mix powder lots to even them out. Typically I will mix a 1-lb container with an 8-lb container. Then I'll pour from the 1-lb container into the powder dispenser and refill the 1-lb container from the 8-lb container as necessary. I have not seen any issues with the mixing.


I do the same, no issues to date. I use mostly Hodgon Extreme powders and maybe this is why.
 
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