Safe to use current data for older powder?

[Scout21]

I'm curious if I can use current load data for working up a load with older powder. I know that powder recipes get tweaked over the years and loading manuals are subsequently updated to account for it.

For example, I picked up a pound of Hodgdon's Extreme H322 a while back and I determined that it was made in April of '08. I did some reading around and it seems that while H322 used to be suitable for 130 grain .308 loads, Hodgdon has since dropped that load data from their site.

I'd hate to use some old powder and have a kaboom since the new load data is for the newer formulations.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I would think if you started at the minimum load and worked up to the load you want you would be ok.

I suspect before the pandemic that there were a lot of powders on shelves in places without a fast turnaround, that were used with current data, and they work just fine by people that had no idea that they could be a little different.

Just look at my gun powder cabinet, you will find pistol powder there that I bought in the 1990s. It still works fine.
Just keep an eye on it for deterioration, and if anything, some of the load data today is slightly lower powered any ways, so it shouldn't be a problem to use todays data for older powder.
The problem I had with buying older powder is I don't know how it was stored before I got it. Cooking in some warehouse in the South for years?

I would be more concerned by using older data for today's powder. Some of those old manuals like Speer's #8 got some pretty hot loads in them.
You should be fine.

 

[Blue68f100]

I always try to use period correct data for the powder I use. With that said, sometimes they are dropped due to issues that showed it's ugly head during retest. With the newer test equipment they are able to pick up on things that was not possible in the years past. Now if the powder has not been reformulated it's safe to use current data if available. I think that powders are being dropped off list in favor of the newer more popular powders. Mainly due to manufacturing changes since there are a lot of regulations related to waste disposal.

If I have data for the powder I want to use, I normally use it. Unless there was data that came out later on that indicated there was a problem. Like eating forcing cones away, excess throat erosion.

 

[Charlie98]

I would think if you started at the minimum load and worked up to the load you want you would be ok.

That in a nutshell.

It's true, data can change or disappear altogether... I've seen it, too. You also have to look at why the data may have changed... much of which I put down to better testing methods, they simply got different results using modern testing equipment and updated the data accordingly. As Blue mentions, long-term testing may show an anomaly, BlueDot in the .41MAG is a good example of this.

This is another reason why I use different data sources for load data... it's nice to validate a load workup between 2 or 3 different sources.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Whether using new data with older powder or older data with new powder, if you find any published warnings from a manufacturer - firearms, brass, powder or projectile - related directly to your components/load, scrap the idea and look for a combination known to work. And always start with minimum loads that match your components and work up to the most accurate, safe pressure load for your firearm.

Some combinations are found through experience not to be good, even though they work. Do the research on your components and forget the theoretical generic what if garbage. Bullets and brass, powders and primers. Every ingredient in the recipe matters.

 

[Shooterbob]

2008 is old???