Thread: Blending powders

I'm about to start some load development for 308 using 2208 powder. I have 3 opened bottles of it all with different batch numbers. Is there any reason why I cant mix all 3 together before starting? Would be a shame to get a good load then have to rework it once on bottle runs out, a combination of all three will give me plenty of shooting before ever needing to buy more. Theres a thread on here that suggests that the 1lb bottles of 2208 are just floor sweepings and are wildly inconsistent between batches? I've never experienced that with any ADI powders, have used plenty of 2208, 2213sc, 2225, 2217 and never had a problem between batches but I'm not so confident now!

Ive done it before didnt blow anything up they both smelt the same so mixed them together same kind of powder 2206h i think it was or 2208 cant remember

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

... thread on here that suggests that the 1lb bottles of 2208 are just floor sweepings and are wildly inconsistent between batches? ..

What a load of bollocks. There may be batch variations over time but floor sweepings???!!

If you're planning on sticking with one load and have various batches, there is a case for mixing them into one "lot" before you get started.

That makes sense actually

Originally Posted by 6x47

What a load of bollocks. There may be batch variations over time but floor sweepings???!!

If you're planning on sticking with one load and have various batches, there is a case for mixing them into one "lot" before you get started.

But but but...one day it will all be used up and no recipe to make a new batch.

Originally Posted by 6x47

What a load of bollocks. There may be batch variations over time but floor sweepings???!!

If you're planning on sticking with one load and have various batches, there is a case for mixing them into one "lot" before you get started.

Agreed, 2208 isn't sweepings, they don't use a broom at a powder factory. It's out of the Dyson

2208 was made for the US team to win 600yrds and 1000Yrd matches

Personally, id do it.
I don't go as far as bothering with batch numbers of powder, or primers.

Originally Posted by 6x47

What a load of bollocks. There may be batch variations over time but floor sweepings???!!

If you're planning on sticking with one load and have various batches, there is a case for mixing them into one "lot" before you get started.

Thats what I do

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

But but but...one day it will all be used up and no recipe to make a new batch.

but it’ll prob be closer to the average than a lone randon cannister


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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I'm about to start some load development for 308 using 2208 powder. I have 3 opened bottles of it all with different batch numbers. Is there any reason why I cant mix all 3 together before starting? Would be a shame to get a good load then have to rework it once on bottle runs out, a combination of all three will give me plenty of shooting before ever needing to buy more. Theres a thread on here that suggests that the 1lb bottles of 2208 are just floor sweepings and are wildly inconsistent between batches? I've never experienced that with any ADI powders, have used plenty of 2208, 2213sc, 2225, 2217 and never had a problem between batches but I'm not so confident now!

I had wondered about doing the same thing.

I use 12 - 15 kg of 2208 per year, usually buying 20 kg at a time.
Been fortunate had the same batch number for a couple of years until a new batch last year.

Last time the batches changed I prepared 12 cases of the "old" batch, 12 of the "new" batch.
Took them to a range. Shot batch 1, let the rifle cool, shot batch 2 (won't say which was old and which was new).
Statistically the speeds, extreme spread, and std deviation were near enough to identical.
The scores were, near enough, identical.

Thought about it. ADI probably make a lot of 2208, so much so that they should be able to get the same performance out of each batch.

That's my thoughts and my experience, yours may differ.

Not experienced it myself but read plenty of anecdotes on people that find quite a variation in lots especially it would seem 2208. Mixing it all to get an average sounds a good idea.

You shooting animals, or for points at a thousand yards?........ it's .308, possibly the most forgiving reloaders cartridge on the planet. mix it and carry on, or don't, the result will be the same. Or, give you powder to me and buy new stuff for you!

it cant hurt, if there's any significant batch to batch variation then mixing bottles of same powder/different batches can only help. But you probably need a fairly thorough mixing to get a uniform blend.