Mixing same powders from differents cans

CENTURION1945 · June 13, 2009, 06:51 AM

Hi all: I have 2 cans, differents lots of Blue Dot powder. One of them has just some 150 gr. the other is recently open but already used. Bullets velocities with the same charge and components differ a bit: some 33 fps average. Should I mix this powders in the hopper of the powder measure and go on, or spend separately until finihs the old one? Thank you for the help.

FALPhil · June 13, 2009, 07:40 AM

The beauty of canister powders is that the performance is supposed to be the same from lot to lot. Back when powder was cheap, if I had a tablespoon or two left over, I would dump it on the old lady's flowers (the stuff is fantastic fertilizer!). These days I use every last grain.

I have heard a lot of guys complain that Varget has significant variances across lots, but I have not experienced that personally. I only use Blue Dot in 9x19. There was some talk about a recall on a lot of Blue Dot some time ago. You might want to research it.

snuffy · June 13, 2009, 08:28 AM

Some people get their panties in a knot when it comes to mixing the last of a previous can of powder with a new can. They claim you MUST re-work your loads with the new powder. As long as the physical appearance of the powder is the same,(looks alike), mix it well with the new powder. That's what I do.

The problem with blu-dot is on this thread stickied at the top of this forum;
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=303766

It's NOT a recall, just an advisory that certain calibers of revolvers shouldn't be loaded with blu-dot.

Dannyl · June 13, 2009, 01:12 PM

Hi,
I live in South Africa, and have been reloading since 91'.
long ago I asked the same question of the person who used to be a senior employee in the local powder manufacturing company and in fact he wrote their manual.
According to him, their powder is consistent so there is no variation in burn-rates from one lot to another.

As long as I mix THE SAME POWDER, there is not problem.

My answer to you, ask the manufacturer of your powder, I am pretty sure that their answer will be the same and you will be able to mix, but play it safe.

BRGDS,
Danny

CENTURION1945 · June 13, 2009, 02:13 PM

Ok, Thanks for the imput, I mixed it today. Before this I did some loads with powder from bouth cans, same charge and they give different velocitys in the 30 fps range. I will measure again with the powder mixed.

Right Wing Wacko · June 13, 2009, 02:36 PM

If a powder is so different from bottle to bottle that it can't be mixed, I don't want to be using it!

Once I work up a load, I need to depend on that being correct, and not having to do it all over again when I purchase another pound of powder.

Archie · June 13, 2009, 03:59 PM

Dump it in the new can and shake it to mix it well.

If you are loading at 'MAX', you might want to drop back a grain or so. But any reasonable load shouldn't show serious difference.

By the way, a 30 fps difference between (the average velocity of) load 'A' and load 'B' is probably less than or equal to the maximum spread for velocities in a ten shot string of either load.

Randy 1911 · June 14, 2009, 12:52 AM

The problem I have seen in mixing powder of different lots is weight. A powder measure measures by volume. The powder of two different lots of the same powder can weigh different for the same volume. If you check the weight every so often, one in fifty, there should be no problem.

Slamfire · June 14, 2009, 07:00 AM

I will mix same powders of different lots if they are of recent production.

I would not recommend mixing 15 - 20 year old powder with new. Powder has a shelf life.

The Army scraps double based ammunition at 20 years, single based 45 years.

Which means they had decided that at 20 years, double based powders are near the end of their shelf lives.

I have had half of the surplus IMR 4895 I purchased go bad in the bottle. So I know powder goes bad.

FM12 · June 15, 2009, 11:19 AM

I mix and go, no problems.

D. Manley · June 15, 2009, 03:47 PM

I think too much is made of this. I use a lot of different powders and habitually mix the remainder of a near-empty jug with a new one. I do this for a couple of reasons...one, I fill my measure when loading even, for a small run. Secondly, I have limited space in my powder storage (and, it's full) so I reduce the number of containers as much as possible. If there's any ill effect of mixing them I sure have'nt noticed it.

June 13, 2009, 06:51 AM	#1
CENTURION1945 Junior Member Join Date: April 4, 2009 Location: Barranquilla, Colombia. Posts: 11	Mixing same powders from differents cans Hi all: I have 2 cans, differents lots of Blue Dot powder. One of them has just some 150 gr. the other is recently open but already used. Bullets velocities with the same charge and components differ a bit: some 33 fps average. Should I mix this powders in the hopper of the powder measure and go on, or spend separately until finihs the old one? Thank you for the help.

June 13, 2009, 08:28 AM	#3
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Some people get their panties in a knot when it comes to mixing the last of a previous can of powder with a new can. They claim you MUST re-work your loads with the new powder. As long as the physical appearance of the powder is the same,(looks alike), mix it well with the new powder. That's what I do. The problem with blu-dot is on this thread stickied at the top of this forum; http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=303766 It's NOT a recall, just an advisory that certain calibers of revolvers shouldn't be loaded with blu-dot. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

June 13, 2009, 01:12 PM	#4
Dannyl Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Cape Town - South Africa Posts: 627	Local manufacturer says it is safe to mix them Hi, I live in South Africa, and have been reloading since 91'. long ago I asked the same question of the person who used to be a senior employee in the local powder manufacturing company and in fact he wrote their manual. According to him, their powder is consistent so there is no variation in burn-rates from one lot to another. As long as I mix THE SAME POWDER, there is not problem. My answer to you, ask the manufacturer of your powder, I am pretty sure that their answer will be the same and you will be able to mix, but play it safe. BRGDS, Danny

June 13, 2009, 02:13 PM	#5
CENTURION1945 Junior Member Join Date: April 4, 2009 Location: Barranquilla, Colombia. Posts: 11	Mixing same powder from different cans Ok, Thanks for the imput, I mixed it today. Before this I did some loads with powder from bouth cans, same charge and they give different velocitys in the 30 fps range. I will measure again with the powder mixed.

June 13, 2009, 02:36 PM	#6
Right Wing Wacko Junior Member Join Date: August 31, 2007 Location: Third Rock From The Sun Posts: 13	If a powder is so different from bottle to bottle that it can't be mixed, I don't want to be using it! Once I work up a load, I need to depend on that being correct, and not having to do it all over again when I purchase another pound of powder. __________________ -- P West Marysville, WA

June 13, 2009, 07:40 AM	#2
FALPhil Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 2007 Location: Racoon City Posts: 934	The beauty of canister powders is that the performance is supposed to be the same from lot to lot. Back when powder was cheap, if I had a tablespoon or two left over, I would dump it on the old lady's flowers (the stuff is fantastic fertilizer!). These days I use every last grain. I have heard a lot of guys complain that Varget has significant variances across lots, but I have not experienced that personally. I only use Blue Dot in 9x19. There was some talk about a recall on a lot of Blue Dot some time ago. You might want to research it.

June 13, 2009, 03:59 PM	#7
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	A total of 150 grains from the old can? Dump it in the new can and shake it to mix it well. If you are loading at 'MAX', you might want to drop back a grain or so. But any reasonable load shouldn't show serious difference. By the way, a 30 fps difference between (the average velocity of) load 'A' and load 'B' is probably less than or equal to the maximum spread for velocities in a ten shot string of either load. __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

June 14, 2009, 12:52 AM	#8
Randy 1911 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2009 Location: Western Arkansas Posts: 273	The problem I have seen in mixing powder of different lots is weight. A powder measure measures by volume. The powder of two different lots of the same powder can weigh different for the same volume. If you check the weight every so often, one in fifty, there should be no problem. __________________ Been Reloading 27 Years NRA Member Member Old Fort Gun Club www.ofgc.org

June 14, 2009, 07:00 AM	#9
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I will mix same powders of different lots if they are of recent production. I would not recommend mixing 15 - 20 year old powder with new. Powder has a shelf life. The Army scraps double based ammunition at 20 years, single based 45 years. Which means they had decided that at 20 years, double based powders are near the end of their shelf lives. I have had half of the surplus IMR 4895 I purchased go bad in the bottle. So I know powder goes bad.

June 15, 2009, 11:19 AM	#10
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	I mix and go, no problems.

June 15, 2009, 03:47 PM	#11
D. Manley Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2008 Posts: 299	I think too much is made of this. I use a lot of different powders and habitually mix the remainder of a near-empty jug with a new one. I do this for a couple of reasons...one, I fill my measure when loading even, for a small run. Secondly, I have limited space in my powder storage (and, it's full) so I reduce the number of containers as much as possible. If there's any ill effect of mixing them I sure have'nt noticed it. __________________ *"Old School" ain't all bad...*

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