When buying consumable components for accuracy, how important is it to you to make sure they’re all the same lot number?






Edited for spelling....

On powder very in my opinion. Some brands are far better at consistency from lot to lot like vhitavori but most have a variation. Primers I buy in bulk as well too if possible.

Powder is the essential component to keep the same lot number for the life of the barrel. When I have used up a barrel, part of the replacement cost for the next barrel, is enough powder for the life of the barrel. In most cases that is 16 pounds. So when I order a barrel, I also order 16 pounds of powder, that is dedicated to that specific barrel. Develop a load one time, and run that exact same load until the barrel is shot out.

I have had the case of couldn't get 16 pounds for the new barrel (Obama years). I could only find one 8 pounder. Fortunately I found another 8 pounder before I had to have it. When I switched lots, I did a new load test. Old load was 42.4gr, new load was 42.8 gr, making the same velocity, shooting just as consistent, beyond 1000 yards.

Image only using one pounders, of different lots, how much variation you would always be chasing.

Some would mix all of the containers together and make a new, single "lot". Yep, some will argue for it and some against.

Agreed....JG would too.

I've not seen any variation in Federal Match or CCI450's but bullets and powder I like to keep those the same.

I would do that, if I had quite a few single pound containers from the start.

Previously I was talking about buying one pound, work up a load, and shoot all the powder. Next month buy another pound and shoot all the powder, ect.

How much accuracy?

I have switched lot numbers on the same powder, and gained 120 fps with pressure signs. Some powders have larger swings on lot to lot variation. So, if you want consistency, the same powder lot is crucial. If you switch, I retest or reconfirm my load before I load up a bunch of ammo.

Just 2 weeks ago, I checked a new lot of IMR 8208 for my 308 loads. The load changed .6 grains less to equal the last powder lot. Changed the load, and ran it out to 1K last week and it shot great.

After running out of RL-22, the next 3 pounds I bought are the same lot number between those three, and after load development to find my node and velocity, I had to add 1.7 grains more to get the same speed. Slower than my last batch.

Nowadays I buy 8 pound jugs to make them last, and 500 round count bulk of bullets or multiple boxes of the same lot number.