Changing powder lots within a powder

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Bigeclipse

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I've always had plenty of powder of the same batch on hand but with the way things are now, that can be difficult. Do you find when switching batches, of the same powder, that you can simply adjust your powder weight to the velocity you were getting before and your groups remain about the same or do you need to do a whole new load work up with eahc new batch change? What is your process for this? Thanks
 
Get, an old rubber ( or soft Plastic ) Pitcher and, a Wooden Vented, Spoon, AND,.. "Blend em' " !
Stir,.. SLOWLY and away from, Flame / Sparks !
Pour back into, Factory Plastic cans and,. Enjoy !
NO need, to mess with, "working up",.. 10 Different, Loads !
 
Last edited:
All good advise above.
I seem to often end up with 3 or 4 one pounders of a different lot. So, I keep a couple empty 8 pound jugs around. I'll pour a quarter or so of each 1 pounder into the 8 pounder jug via a funnel and then manually turn the 8 pounder over slowly several times. Add some more powder from each 1 pounder and do it again. When finished, I pour the powder from the 8 pounder back into the 1 pounders and label it. This has worked well for me.
 
If I know in advance that I have 2 different lots I combine them. I would rather have 2 consistent pounds than 1 of each I have to rework. Especially now that many places have maximun quantities. I buy 2 lbs from Midsouth and 2lbs from powder valley and mix evenly. In the construction industry we call it "boxing". NEVER mix unlike powders!!!
 
Barrelnut said:
So, I keep a couple empty 8 pound jugs around. I'll pour a quarter or so of each 1 pounder into the 8 pounder jug via a funnel and then manually turn the 8 pounder over slowly several times. Add some more powder from each 1 pounder and do it again. When finished, I pour the powder from the 8 pounder back into the 1 pounders and label it.
Click to expand...
X2! Mixing same powder in this manner has always kept my loads consistent since they were now "same lot". I also label with the date I mixed them and the lot numbers that were mixed. Just anal I guess to include lot numbers.
 
Barrelnut said:
All good advise above.
I seem to often end up with 3 or 4 one pounders of a different lot. So, I keep a couple empty 8 pound jugs around. I'll pour a quarter or so of each 1 pounder into the 8 pounder jug via a funnel and then manually turn the 8 pounder over slowly several times. Add some more powder from each 1 pounder and do it again. When finished, I pour the powder from the 8 pounder back into the 1 pounders and label it. This has worked well for me.
Click to expand...
That's what I've done for years. I'll load a few of each lot at several grains under established load and if all good I combine them.
 
I tried the working back up to match velocity thing….sometimes it worked and others it didn't.
So, nowadays, I just blend the old with the new.
Most of my powder is in 4kg (8lb) kegs, so I just blend what's left over and use a 1lb bottle to decant from.
I have always been close to the old groups doing this, so a little tweaking may be necessary here and there.

Cheers.
 
I've been stuffing powder in cases since the 70's. I used to run through a lot of rounds shooting pistol Silhouettes, never noticed anything I recall from from one lot to another, but it's been quite a few years back.

Same with my hunting rounds. Maybe if I was shooting bench rest I might be able to notice. I've loaded from 223 to 416 Rigby and in between.

Temperature, now that's a different story. Some hard lessons can be learned shooting top of the chart in August under that hot metal roof at American shooting in Houston Texas. What you can get a way with bear hunting in Alaska may not work in South Texas.
 
Never done anything since the mid 70's when I started reloading other than start using a new pound or 8lb keg of the same powder. Some times to make it fit on the shelf I will mix in two different (old and new) cans several times back and forth to get a good mix and finish it in one can. I still don't and I dont notice a spits bit of difference. I finally started keeping a binder of all the different loads and rifles instead of in the die label or on the ammo box in the early 90's. Old loads both loaded and in the book from 30 years ago still match new loads over the chronograph. I'm just a shooter who likes accurate (.5") rifles and play at BR and competition shooting. Details help in everything....just some are not worth the time and effort for enough measurable gain or loss for me.
 

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