Yesterday I finished my first 8lb jug of X-terminator rifle powder. I had a second that I opened up. Instead of using it I thought I would try loading some rounds with a different powder. So the little bit of X-terminator that was left in the powder measure I dumped in the new jug of X-terminator. Did I make a mistake and ruin the 2nd jug? I read somewhere about never mixing powders because even though they are the same make they could be from different lots. So did I mess up or should it be fine? Forgive me if this is a stupid question I tend to worry about these things.
Quick powder question
- Thread starter RuggedAK
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Don't worry about it.
A 'little' in an 8 pound jug cannot have any noticeable result.
Powder lot numbers don't matter a whole lot either.
The manufactures go to great lengths to insure canister grade powder sold for reloading is very uniform from lot to lot.
The only bad thing would be if you dumped 'a little' 50 year old powder that was going bad in a brand new jug.
rc
A 'little' in an 8 pound jug cannot have any noticeable result.
Powder lot numbers don't matter a whole lot either.
The manufactures go to great lengths to insure canister grade powder sold for reloading is very uniform from lot to lot.
The only bad thing would be if you dumped 'a little' 50 year old powder that was going bad in a brand new jug.
rc
32_d3gr33s
Member
Different powder lots should be no different unless the recipe for the powder has changed. I'm sure most people don't re-work their loads every time the open a new pound of powder. The difference is probably minuscule between the 2 lots.
ReloaderFred
Member
You'll be fine. Chances are the two jugs may have come from the same lot anyway, if they were purchased at the same time from the same vendor. Even if they aren't from the same lot, such a small amount mixed in won't change it enough to make any difference.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Hope this helps.
Fred
oneounceload
member
Different powders refers to just that - different powders, not different lots of the same powder
kerreckt
Member
Don't worry about it. Tiny amount of the same powder but different lot isn't going to be a problem.
buck460XVR
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I actually do this on purpose. As others have said, the difference between lots on modern production powders is moot. Mixing the two actually will reduce any variance there is between them.
gahunter12
Member
As Walkalong said, I also shake mine up a little. No worries, carry on, and load!
Smokey Joe
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Avoiding variation...
To avoid lot-to-lot variation (minor though it may be) my procedure has been to mix the last of the old jug of powder with the new one. Open up the new jug before the old one runs out, pour 'em together, mix away. Powder in one- or eight-pound containers never seems to fill up the container, so the mixture can then be poured into one jug, and on with the reloading.
ETA--This is of course, ONLY with a powder of the same designation. Never, never, never, mix two different powders. Never.
To avoid lot-to-lot variation (minor though it may be) my procedure has been to mix the last of the old jug of powder with the new one. Open up the new jug before the old one runs out, pour 'em together, mix away. Powder in one- or eight-pound containers never seems to fill up the container, so the mixture can then be poured into one jug, and on with the reloading.
ETA--This is of course, ONLY with a powder of the same designation. Never, never, never, mix two different powders. Never.
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sauer1911
Member
Yeah we had a guy at the range who did not empty his ball powder from the hopper, and got it mixed in with some .308 rifle powder!
The back of the cartridge lodged in the bullet proof glass behind him, part of the barrel went 10yds down range, and the bolt cut open his buddys arm. Not real bad, but could have be alot worse.
It was the second shot in the rifle, we looked at the rest of his ammo, pulled apart one of the rounds and found the ball powder and stick mixed together.
You gotta take your time and be soo careful.
be safe
The back of the cartridge lodged in the bullet proof glass behind him, part of the barrel went 10yds down range, and the bolt cut open his buddys arm. Not real bad, but could have be alot worse.
It was the second shot in the rifle, we looked at the rest of his ammo, pulled apart one of the rounds and found the ball powder and stick mixed together.
You gotta take your time and be soo careful.
be safe
spitballer
Member
I wouldn't sweat it. I did the same thing with my last can of 3031, poured the last few grains from the finished can into the new one.
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