Small amount of powder

[Ctgrizzly2hunt]

Just wondering is it safe to add small amount of the same powder into the next bottle with a different lot number?

 

[redneck2]

There will much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from the purists, but I do the same thing.

 

[243winxb]

Its been covered before at the link

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=783115 Do a test by volume. Set the measure, run 20 to settle the power. Get the dropped weight of the old powder. Empty. Add new lot with same measure setting, run 20 to settle the powder. Compare both weights using the same volume. Any difference?

 

[dnfd737]

I don't see a problem if its a like powder......its the same formula, add it to the bottle mix well and load I say but agree with the above there will be plenty of doubting Thomas on this.

 

[ljnowell]

I've been doing it as long as I've been reloading.

 

[GP100man]

Some don`t , I do, have`nt had a problem yet .

BUT, If you work with max loads its a good practice to back off & work up again with the new LOT of powder.

 

[trania_000]

As long as it is the same powder.....Thats what I do, never had a problem.

 

[Crashbox]

Done it numerous times- not an issue IMO unless you are running your loads on the ragged edge.

 

[Gtscotty]

If

There will much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth from the purists, but I do the same thing.

Same here, the last couple hundred grains of a given powder usually gets mixed into the next canister of that powder. I do shake it up with the intent of mixing it and minimizing any effect the lot to lot variance in burn rates might have.

 

[Ctgrizzly2hunt]

Thats what I kind of thought, thank you all for the input.

 

[tcj]

Only applies to the same powder - I don't add it to the new jug but instead put the older in the powder hopper and add the new over it...while there isn't likely any difference I like to chrono each lot of powder and this way I know which rounds were in transition from one lot to the next.

 

[oneounceload]

Add it in, give the jug a shake and you are good to go.

 

[higgite]

Why mix it? (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) Are you running low on storage space or what?

 

[ljnowell]

Why mix it? (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) Are you running low on storage space or what?

Once you get down to less than a hopper of powder you have to do something.

 

[Oldman1151]

Today I finished up a pound of powder. I kept check weighing to make sure I was getting proper throws when hopper got low. Last full case loaded weighed exactly what it was suppose to. Next load was obviously a low charge. I ended up having 12 grains of powder left in hopper and trickler. I loaded up two more rounds manually and mixed the remaining 1 grain of powder in my next pound of powder. Using Unique with Lee Pro Auto-Disk dispenser with micro charge bar.

 

[ljnowell]

Today I finished up a pound of powder. I kept check weighing to make sure I was getting proper throws when hopper got low. Last full case loaded weighed exactly what it was suppose to. Next load was obviously a low charge. I ended up having 12 grains of powder left in hopper and trickler. I loaded up two more rounds manually and mixed the remaining 1 grain of powder in my next pound of powder. Using Unique with Lee Pro Auto-Disk dispenser with micro charge bar.

That's most definitely not my experience or many others. Good that yours is capable of that though.

 

[Oldman1151]

That's most definitely not my experience or many others. Good that yours is capable of that though.

That was the first time I did that and was surprised as I was not expecting it to work that well. Maybe just got lucky.

 

[ljnowell]

That was the first time I did that and was surprised as I was not expecting it to work that well. Maybe just got lucky.

I wish mine was!! Lol.

I found that when mine gets down to about the last 1/3-3/4" of powder throws start getting erratic. It depends on the powder how much though. Something like 700x? You could end up with squibs. Something like AA#2 and I will just get big variances and crappy ammo.

 

[Oldman1151]

I wish mine was!! Lol.

I found that when mine gets down to about the last 1/3-3/4" of powder throws start getting erratic. It depends on the powder how much though. Something like 700x? You could end up with squibs. Something like AA#2 and I will just get big variances and crappy ammo.

I was planning on having to stop once the powder level got down to baffle. After just reading this thread I wanted to see what how far I could go before getting light loads or variation. Very surprised to get good charges right down to the end like that.

 

[Hondo 60]

I mix all the time.

Some will say you have to start working up all over again.
But I shoot enough that I'd never finish if i did it that way.

 

[oneounceload]

I loaded up two more rounds manually and mixed the remaining 1 grain of powder in my next pound of powder.

That is just a tad over the top....................(and unnecessary)

 

[TimSr]

Not that it makes any verifiable difference, but because a can of powder might be in service for a period of years, I feel better using the old powder up completely before starting on the new can just so I don't old powder from 3 or 4 cans, and 10 years ago still in my current can of powder. Probably more psychological than reality, but can you imagine if you did that with your milk jug in the fridge? Powder lives a lot longer than milk, but I'd still prefer this year's can to be all from this year.

 

[anothernewb]

I have to add I've bought several pounders of the same powder from vastly different lots in recent times. I've honestly never noticed an iota of difference between them. when one can runs out, I add from the next can and keep loading.

Perhaps it's my loads. none are anywhere near max loads so pressure is relatively irrelevant, and perhaps my shooting ability is not such that I can detect any difference.

I have read many threads on it and have come to perhaps a bit of a controversial conclusion. Look at all the "classic" loads from common powders. then look at the "common" loads among certain powder users. ie. 2.8 grains BE under a 38 spl wadcutter, 4 gains under a 200 lswc in 45. 5 grains 231 for 45. etc, etc, etc.

If powder truly varied that much - the hundreds of millions of rounds loaded and fired by millions of shooters could never be that consistent, could never come from the same lot, the same loading procedures, or even the same guns. If you're loading near the "sweet spot" I suspect lot to lot variance is about the least of any issues you might experience.

 

[243winxb]

Imr 4198

By volume there can be as much as 1.1 gr difference in weight. IMR4198 - 18.5 gr vs 19.6 gr. with the measure at the same setting. This was " older " Canada vs Australia Imr 4198. One of my pet loads is at book maximun, so I need to know any difference.

 

[Oldman1151]

That is just a tad over the top....................(and unnecessary)

I was not about to throw it away.