Thread: Blending powders

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.

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.

I was wrong, it happens from time to time.

ADI reported in December ADI propellant update/
"AR2208, AR2209 – These propellants will be available in both 1kg and 4kg bottles for the foreseeable future and we have these propellants represented through the different stages of manufacture almost constantly."

Clearly some shooters find batches to be different.