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does mixing powder make sense?
#5532255
01/10/15 03:02 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
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daniel1381
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Was at the range and a guy(in his 40's) came up to me asking where I buy my reloading powder. He said he likes buying all the same lot. when he cant find the same powder from all the same lot he said buys what he can and mixes it all up?? Is this even right?
Last edited by daniel1381; 01/10/15 03:04 PM.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5532356
01/10/15 03:51 PM
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J.G.
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Sure as long as the type of powder is all the same.
So if you had six one pounders of H-Varget, but there were two or three lot numbers you could mix them all in a tub then put them back in their cans. Now you have consistent powder in one custom made lot. As soon as you run out and go to a new lot, you'll have to tweak the load starting under your original powder charge and work back up to it. Making sure the new lot isnt running hotter.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5532427
01/10/15 04:22 PM
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daniel1381
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ok cool learn something new every day
"From my cold dead hands"
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Benjamin Franklin
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5532685
01/10/15 06:35 PM
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Wburke2010
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That is what I had to do. I found five pounds of H4350 a while back and they were all different lots so I mixed them all and haven't had a problem yet.
Walter
MW Ranch Services 903-303-4523 Metal buildings, welding, equipment repair, dirt work
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5532693
01/10/15 06:41 PM
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ChadTRG42
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I'll be honest, I've done it also. When I have a small amount of the same powder in multiple pounds, I'll add them together, label the jug as "mixed" and use it later. I won't do this for my match ammo or ammo I would be using for competition. I stick to one lot.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5532738
01/10/15 06:58 PM
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RiverRider
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I mix different lots of the same powder also. That way I can work up a load and not have to diddle with it again so soon.
I was shooting with a benchrester one day who told me he adjusts the burn rate of some of his powders by mixing in another number. As an example he might want to slow down the burn rate of the H4350, so he'd mix a little H4831 in it. I think that would be okay because the chemistry of the two powders is similar. I personally would NOT do that nor recommend it, but I think someone who really knows about powder chemistry and manufacture could do it safely. I don't pretend to know that much. I do know that you would never blend a single-base powder with a double-base powder and I can't imagine why anyone would blend H4198 with Retumbo.
Same number but just different lots? As long as one of them's not so old that the chemistry may have been changed, no sweat.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5532906
01/10/15 08:38 PM
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tth_40
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Yup. Been doing it for years. Glad I'm not the only one.
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5537986
01/12/15 08:39 PM
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schmellba99
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It really doesn't make that much sense. Cannister grade powder is tested and blended at the factory to be within a 3% burn rate from one lot to the next. I suppose you could run into a case where you had a high and low end lot and have a spread of about 6% (max) burn rate, but that would be extremely unlikely.
Your rifle and groups aren't going to notice, even at range, a difference of 1%-2% burn rate between lots of powder. You'll get that much spread just from the same cannister.
Now, if you have a jug of a type of powder (say Varget, for example) that has a half pound left and you dump it into an 8 lb keg that has 6 lbs and give it a good shake or two, are you going to hurt anything at all? Nope, not in the slightest.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: schmellba99]
#5538015
01/12/15 08:53 PM
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ChadTRG42
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Your rifle and groups aren't going to notice, even at range, a difference of 1%-2% burn rate between lots of powder. Depends on the rifle and the shooter. Hunting rifle for 100 yards, maybe not. But I have several rifles that a change in lot number have and will change up my group sizes, and for sure change up my speeds. And that will certainly change up my trajectory and accuracy at longer ranges. So yes, a change in powder lot numbers will effect your groups and speeds.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538017
01/12/15 08:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
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schmellba99
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You are an exception then, but to each his own.
Bottom line is that it doesn't hurt, but really doesn't make much of a difference either. The big thing is to make darn sure you are mixing the exact same powder from the exact same manufacturer.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538177
01/12/15 10:10 PM
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Judd
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Count me as an exception too. I had a gun that was hammering, ran out of Varget went to the next lot and matched velocity by making a very small adjustment and the gun wouldn't shoot it. I went to a different lot and it started hammering again.
I don't know what it was about that one lot but it was weird in that particular barrel. Funny thing is I'm using that powder I couldn't get to shoot in another gun and it's now driving tacks and the best shooting gun I have right now. Things go as planned I'll run out of that powder this season right about the time that barrel needs setback or pulled.
So I defintely say to mix them and create one big lot that you can base the load off of and keep through the life of the barrel, rather than taking the chance the lot will make a difference.
Last edited by Judd; 01/12/15 10:11 PM. Reason: added last paragraph to answer initial question
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: schmellba99]
#5538179
01/12/15 10:11 PM
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Wburke2010
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You are an exception then, but to each his own.
Bottom line is that it doesn't hurt, but really doesn't make much of a difference either. The big thing is to make darn sure you are mixing the exact same powder from the exact same manufacturer. Depends on the type of shooting you do like chad mentioned. On my match rifle changing from lot to lot does has some variances in it. Which makes me go back and re work the load. Walter
MW Ranch Services 903-303-4523 Metal buildings, welding, equipment repair, dirt work
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538266
01/12/15 10:48 PM
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daniel1381
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I have a 7lb just of retumbo 1 lot number And 5 1lb just 2 are one lot and 3 are one lot..should I mix it all
"From my cold dead hands"
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Benjamin Franklin
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538282
01/12/15 10:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,157
Judd
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I would...mix it real thoroughly so you have one big new lot.
Don't let your ears hear what your eyes didn't see, and don't let your mouth say what your heart doesn't feel
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538332
01/12/15 11:20 PM
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daniel1381
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will get right on that! thanks for help !
"From my cold dead hands"
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Benjamin Franklin
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: schmellba99]
#5538424
01/12/15 11:56 PM
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J.G.
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You are an exception then, but to each his own.
Bottom line is that it doesn't hurt, but really doesn't make much of a difference either. The big thing is to make darn sure you are mixing the exact same powder from the exact same manufacturer. Incorrect. Not an exeception It doesn't hurt but does make a difference. I've seen a 300 Win Mag switch lots and the new lot started cratering primers. Had a client last week that got ammo from a new lot, for a 243 and the new lot made 120 fps more than the last lot. Those are two examples of big swings in burn rate and velocity. The 300 Win could be called unsafe using the same powder charge but with a new lot.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: Judd]
#5538461
01/13/15 12:09 AM
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dawaba
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I would...mix it real thoroughly so you have one big new lot. That's what I would do too. The big ammo manufacturers do the same thing, only they mix railroad cars full of powder instead of 1 lb cans. With their testing equipment for measuring pressure curves, burn rate, etc, they will blend different powders until they get just the performance they're wanting. Then they load millions of rounds of ammo. I've always been a hoarder. I try to buy new powder long before I run out of the old. Then, I mix new and old together, so instead of having Lot A and Lot B, I now have 100% Lot AB. And, unless the amount of powder from the new lot is a bunch more than the old, I don't bother re-working my loads.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538530
01/13/15 12:31 AM
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Wburke2010
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will get right on that! thanks for help ! Just make sure to not mix it in a metal bowel. Use plastic and mix carefully so you do not break it up. Walter
MW Ranch Services 903-303-4523 Metal buildings, welding, equipment repair, dirt work
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: Wburke2010]
#5538546
01/13/15 12:39 AM
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daniel1381
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will get right on that! thanks for help ! Just make sure to not mix it in a metal bowel. Use plastic and mix carefully so you do not break it up. Walter will do. thanks for heads up
"From my cold dead hands"
"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do."
Benjamin Franklin
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: Wburke2010]
#5538834
01/13/15 02:21 AM
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Big Fitz
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will get right on that! thanks for help ! Just make sure to not mix it in a metal bowel. Use plastic and mix carefully so you do not break it up. Walter Walter, what is the concern with mixing in a metal bowl? How about glass rather than plastic? Just wondering...
I was wrong...on anything technical. Fitz............. is right, ya know............
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: Big Fitz]
#5538845
01/13/15 02:24 AM
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J.G.
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Bet glass is fine. Bet Walter is trying to avoid static electricity that causes powder to stick.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5538879
01/13/15 02:36 AM
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RiverRider
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I'd like to know what's wrong with the metal bowl myself---I'm about to recycle a bunch of pull-down H335 and homogenize about 15 pounds of the stuff. That's a lot of powder to have in the wrong kind of container.
"Arguing with you always makes me thirsty." -Augustus McRae
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: RiverRider]
#5538901
01/13/15 02:43 AM
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J.G.
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Prolly nothing. Wouldn't surprise me if Fitz has a big ole glass bowl he wants to use.
That or, because he has a dergee in physics, he's prodding Walter.
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5539388
01/13/15 05:33 AM
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kmon11
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Last I mixed was from 3 lots of Hodgdon 50BMG in a large stainless mixing bowl, no issues.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: does mixing powder make sense?
[Re: daniel1381]
#5541216
01/14/15 01:55 AM
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Big Fitz
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Not prodding Walter at all, just wondering the reason. A stainless steel bowl, being conductive, actually helps reduce the probability of static discharge with most plastic being worse. That is why I was asking as I have about 15 lbs of H4350 to mix and don't want to screw it up. I need to googlefoo it...
I was wrong...on anything technical. Fitz............. is right, ya know............
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