Toss it or Use it

BigBlack · October 1, 2008, 04:38 PM

Let me preface by saying I “Toss it” and it is against my logic to “Use it” but sometimes my logic is wrong so I am poking your minds!

Scenario: Loading up some big cartridge requiring 70grs of powder “A.” You are low and throw your last little bit and it only measures 45grs. You now open a brand new bottle of powder “A” do you:

A. Pour the charge you just threw in the new bottle, shake it up and “Use It”
B. Screw this little bit and “Toss It”
And yes I am bored at work and my mind is all over the place.

DIXIEDOG · October 1, 2008, 05:00 PM

I just trickle it up to the desired charge weight and use it. I'm cheap like that

kyle663 · October 1, 2008, 05:03 PM

everything i've read says not to mix different lots of the same powder, but, unless you are loading the max on te rounds, i dont see what 45 grains mixed in a new container of powder would make much difference.

mkg · October 1, 2008, 05:35 PM

I'd toss it , Unless both containers have the same lot #.

If they don't have the same lot# IMHO you should rework your charge anyway. I know its a pain in the ... well you know but it's better than taking a risk that the next container is a HOT LOT.

Mike

Sevens · October 1, 2008, 06:19 PM

Honestly for a second-- look at it with numbers.

You have 45 grains of powder left.
A new can has 7,000 grains of powder in it.

In reality, the powder you mix in becomes 0.0064 of the whole container. That's a little more than half of one percent.

You could probably add 45 grains of Bullseye to a can of 4895 and never notice it.

You could probably add 45 grains of cocaine to a can of 4895 and never notice it.

You could probably add 45 grains of powdered goat schitt to a can of 4895 and never notice it.

Of course, you could also just toss the 45 grains of left over powder and never notice that, either.

steve4102 · October 1, 2008, 06:23 PM

There is no guarantee that your new lot of powder will perform grain for grain the same as your old lot, agreed. It is splattered all over every manual I own, "Any time you change a component, you should start low and work back up", this includes a new lot of powder. So, if my new lot of powder is different and I must work back up, why not just mix them together and work back up with my own special lot# of powder?

I mix em.

azredhawk44 · October 1, 2008, 06:28 PM

I mix 'em too.

But, I don't ever shoot max loads.

10 Spot Terminator · October 1, 2008, 06:40 PM

Just mixed a tad over 59 gr. of IMR 4350 into a new lb. of the same but different lot #s, loaded 10 rounds of 300 Win Mag at 73 gr. per load, took them to the range, fired them over a chrony as I was adjusting my scope to this new found sweetheart load and had a 19 fps deviation from the fastest to slowest at an avg. speed of 3216 fps and the last 4 rounds fired for group even with this horrid dirty powder measured 5/8 in @ 100 yards. You be the judge . 10 Spot .

mkg · October 1, 2008, 06:46 PM

I guess it comes down to how many pounds of a particular powder you have .

I usually buy four pounds (same lot# ) of any given powder at a time ( so I don't have to spend part of each pound re-working loads ) . If I were to mix 45 grains into the next pound and not into the third pound well you get the drift , it's just not worth it to me .

Sevens, I agree it probabally wouldn't make a huge difference it's just something else to think/worry about.

Mike

VaFisher · October 1, 2008, 06:52 PM

Mix and have some fun, gives a good excuse to go to the range and find out.

BigJimP · October 1, 2008, 07:45 PM

I would leave it in the powder measure - and mix it with powder out of the new 8 lb keg and not worry about it. But as the powder measure got about 50% empty - I would have opened the new keg of powder and added it and topped off the powder measure anyway.

Seriously, none of us vary our reloads based on the powder lot - we all follow what the reloading manuals says to load to. We have a goal on a particular powder drop / make sure our powder measures are dropping consistent charges ( and we check them often ) so we aren't surprised by a change in density, humidity, temp in the shop, etc ..

There isn't any way to tell if the burn characteristics are different from lot to lot / or even within an 8 lb keg. We all have to trust Hodgdon, etc and assume what they say is in the keg / is in the keg .....

kraigwy · October 1, 2008, 08:25 PM

I dont know what your loading but I bet if you are loading 70 grns ,you'll never be able to tell the differance when you shoot it.

I'd mix it unless you're doing some bench rest matches, then any BR gun taking that much powder wouldn't matter anyway.

October 1, 2008, 04:38 PM	#1
BigBlack Member Join Date: February 20, 2008 Location: Lyons, GA Posts: 46	Toss it or Use it Let me preface by saying I “Toss it” and it is against my logic to “Use it” but sometimes my logic is wrong so I am poking your minds! Scenario: Loading up some big cartridge requiring 70grs of powder “A.” You are low and throw your last little bit and it only measures 45grs. You now open a brand new bottle of powder “A” do you: A. Pour the charge you just threw in the new bottle, shake it up and “Use It” B. Screw this little bit and “Toss It” And yes I am bored at work and my mind is all over the place.

October 1, 2008, 05:03 PM	#3
kyle663 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: IL Posts: 311	IMHO everything i've read says not to mix different lots of the same powder, but, unless you are loading the max on te rounds, i dont see what 45 grains mixed in a new container of powder would make much difference.

October 1, 2008, 06:19 PM	#5
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,775	Honestly for a second-- look at it with numbers. You have 45 grains of powder left. A new can has 7,000 grains of powder in it. In reality, the powder you mix in becomes 0.0064 of the whole container. That's a little more than half of one percent. You could probably add 45 grains of Bullseye to a can of 4895 and never notice it. You could probably add 45 grains of cocaine to a can of 4895 and never notice it. You could probably add 45 grains of powdered goat schitt to a can of 4895 and never notice it. Of course, you could also just toss the 45 grains of left over powder and never notice that, either. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

October 1, 2008, 05:00 PM	#2
DIXIEDOG Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 265	I just trickle it up to the desired charge weight and use it. I'm cheap like that

October 1, 2008, 05:35 PM	#4
mkg Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2008 Location: NE TN Posts: 188	I'd toss it , Unless both containers have the same lot #. If they don't have the same lot# IMHO you should rework your charge anyway. I know its a pain in the ... well you know but it's better than taking a risk that the next container is a HOT LOT. Mike

October 1, 2008, 06:23 PM	#6
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,968	There is no guarantee that your new lot of powder will perform grain for grain the same as your old lot, agreed. It is splattered all over every manual I own, "Any time you change a component, you should start low and work back up", this includes a new lot of powder. So, if my new lot of powder is different and I must work back up, why not just mix them together and work back up with my own special lot# of powder? I mix em.

October 1, 2008, 06:28 PM	#7
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	I mix 'em too. But, I don't ever shoot max loads.

October 1, 2008, 06:40 PM	#8
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	Just mixed a tad over 59 gr. of IMR 4350 into a new lb. of the same but different lot #s, loaded 10 rounds of 300 Win Mag at 73 gr. per load, took them to the range, fired them over a chrony as I was adjusting my scope to this new found sweetheart load and had a 19 fps deviation from the fastest to slowest at an avg. speed of 3216 fps and the last 4 rounds fired for group even with this horrid dirty powder measured 5/8 in @ 100 yards. You be the judge . 10 Spot .

October 1, 2008, 06:46 PM	#9
mkg Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2008 Location: NE TN Posts: 188	I guess it comes down to how many pounds of a particular powder you have . I usually buy four pounds (same lot# ) of any given powder at a time ( so I don't have to spend part of each pound re-working loads ) . If I were to mix 45 grains into the next pound and not into the third pound well you get the drift , it's just not worth it to me . Sevens, I agree it probabally wouldn't make a huge difference it's just something else to think/worry about. Mike

October 1, 2008, 06:52 PM	#10
VaFisher Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 596	Mix and have some fun, gives a good excuse to go to the range and find out.

October 1, 2008, 07:45 PM	#11
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I would leave it in the powder measure - and mix it with powder out of the new 8 lb keg and not worry about it. But as the powder measure got about 50% empty - I would have opened the new keg of powder and added it and topped off the powder measure anyway. Seriously, none of us vary our reloads based on the powder lot - we all follow what the reloading manuals says to load to. We have a goal on a particular powder drop / make sure our powder measures are dropping consistent charges ( and we check them often ) so we aren't surprised by a change in density, humidity, temp in the shop, etc .. There isn't any way to tell if the burn characteristics are different from lot to lot / or even within an 8 lb keg. We all have to trust Hodgdon, etc and assume what they say is in the keg / is in the keg .....

October 1, 2008, 08:25 PM	#12
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,060	I dont know what your loading but I bet if you are loading 70 grns ,you'll never be able to tell the differance when you shoot it. I'd mix it unless you're doing some bench rest matches, then any BR gun taking that much powder wouldn't matter anyway.