Thread: Blending powders

The other thread about contaminated powder got me thinking.......

Assuming they are all the same powder.
Lets say you have a part used 500 gram tin of lot # 1
and another 500 gram tin of lot #B
Then you managed to score a 1 KG tin of lot #F

Should you mix them together? Bearing in mind that each lot is already "mixed" to provide a consistant burn rate for us small time users.

Or should you load develop each seperate lot?

Depends if you know or care about whether or not your particular powder has any lot-to-lot variation.

I've had a new batch of AR2207 cause an increase of 150fps with a 45/70 which with a 300gr pill is significant. I would not blend new into old in my instance.

I’ve done it before with 2209. I didn’t want to work up a load just to recheck it when I changed to a new container. Just make sure you mix it real well.

Haven’t done personally but friend did exactly what you describe. Mixed well and checked his mv against previous load. He wanted to avoid checking the load several times with different powder lots. Worked ok. I’ve had up to 10% variation between lots but most commonly it’s been negligible.

Personally I am ok with it. If you had all three lots at the beginning and just mixed them all to be a new lot and work up a load
Or later on you decide to blend a nearly empty container into a newer lot I would blend them and work up a load ( but why would you .... just load the older tin first as you know its characteristics), then start the newer tin and work up a load

I can see that with current supply there is going to be folk mixing old and new and just carry on, but that would be bad reloading practice

Just trying to put the cart behind the horse.

If you're meaning blending lots of the same powder I've done it with 2208.
Had almost finished loading with one batch then blended the next batch into a larger container and continued loading.
Over time the loading container had more and more of the new lot and less of the old.
Worked for me, didn't have to rework loads.

Another time I loaded and tested an "older" batch of 2208 against the "newer" batch.
24 rounds of each batch. Fired 10 shots with 2 sighters are 300 yards and 500 yards.
There was not statistical difference is speed or accuracy between the batches.

As 2208 is a powder ADI is almost always manufacturing I figured that ADI's quality control manages the mix to get consistency.
That's my theory anyway.

Your blending is only going to be about an amount for 1 case?

Originally Posted by TeRei

Your blending is only going to be about an amount for 1 case?

My blending was 500g of old batch with 500g of new batch and then adding new batch 500g at a time.

I use/load between 8 & 13.5 kg of 2208 a season, 2500 - 4500 rounds.

ok with doing it but for crying out loud put it back into origonal containers...NOT another bigger container without labels....
I have AR 2213sc mixed with the older hodgdon equivilent and have used it like that for years,just keep adding in the newest batch and mixing it up well....

I'll do it all the time. Once I've developed a load enough to know that I'll be using that powder I'll blend in a couple more lots. Then I'll finish load development /recheck it. When I've got a pound or two of powder left (depending on the cartridge size) I'll blend in the new lot. I've never had to re do load development this way as by mixing multiple lots of powder together it becomes close to the average.

Just be careful that your mixing the same powder.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

My blending was 500g of old batch with 500g of new batch and then adding new batch 500g at a time.

I use/load between 8 & 13.5 kg of 2208 a season, 2500 - 4500 rounds.

But why? Just use a container till nearly empty and any little amount topped up by latest batch?. I use alot of BM2 for self and others.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Originally Posted by Cyclops

My blending was 500g of old batch with 500g of new batch and then adding new batch 500g at a time.

I use/load between 8 & 13.5 kg of 2208 a season, 2500 - 4500 rounds.

But why? Just use a container till nearly empty and any little amount topped up by latest batch?. I use alot of BM2 for self and others.

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Subsequently I tested different batches of 2208 and found no significant difference so I no longer blend.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

..

As 2208 is a powder ADI is almost always manufacturing I figured that ADI's quality control manages the mix to get consistency.
That's my theory anyway.

Might be a dangerous assumption from what serious Férs have found in the US. Apparently some batches of H4350 (2209) are significantly different .

Originally Posted by 6x47

Might be a dangerous assumption from what serious Férs have found in the US. Apparently some batches of H4350 (2209) are significantly different .

Greetings All,
I tested this in my 6.5x55 a couple of years back and found that the same load of 2018 AR2209 gave around 80 fps more velocity than either of my earlier two batches circa 1990 and 2000. This was done with all other components the same, loaded and shot on the same day. The chronograph readings from loads from years back showed that the older powder had not changed in speed over the years. It appears that this change happened in the 2000 to 2002 period. 80 fps is roughly the same as adding another 1.5 grains of powder. I could also find sets of load data that matched the two speeds.
For this and a number of other reasons I think mixing two lots of a powder is a thoroughly stupid idea. You are adulterating your new lot by mixing it with older powder and it is easy to do a simple test. Load two cartridges of the old lot and two of the new and chronograph them. If they are close to the same then all good. If not then you can easily calculate and work up to your new charge with a few rounds. New batches of projectiles need to be checked as well. Later Hornady projectiles have their ogive in a different place and seating depth needs to be adjusted.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by 6x47

Originally Posted by Cyclops

As 2208 is a powder ADI is almost always manufacturing I figured that ADI's quality control manages the mix to get consistency.
That's my theory anyway.

Might be a dangerous assumption from what serious Férs have found in the US. Apparently some batches of H4350 (2209) are significantly different .

As I understand it the volume of 2209 manufactured is much smaller than 2208.
2208 is almost continually manufactured therefore much easier to get consistency between batches.
2209 is manufactured in batches at different time, therefore harder to be consistent.

I was sharing my experience with 2208. I have found no significant difference between batches. Others may have.

Other shooters should always use their judgement and test for themselves.