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 Itâ€
B. Screw this little bit and “Toss Itâ€
And yes I am bored at work and my mind is all over the place.

"B"....when it costs this little (roughly a nickel) it's best to say screw it.....and toss it.....

Had you chosen option "A".....it would have resulted in nothing at all except a savings of a nickel.....

I'd say if the Powder has the exact same Lot # - A. And no need to shake.

If the Powder has a different Lot #, then it is time to Re-Verify the original Load from below. So, there is a bit of Loading and Testing to do before just making up a pile of ammo, whether it fits a persons time frame or not.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

This is a trivial dilemma isn’t it?

1. You can just throw it a way or burn it in an ashtray and enjoy the fireworks.

2. You can mix powder “A†lot “1†with another bottle of powder “A†lot “1†and be a safe cheap skate.

3. Here’s where it takes some real courage. Dump that 45 grains of powder “A†lot “1†into a new 7000 grain bottle of powder “A†lot “2â€.

OMG! You just destroyed (according to some) a pound of powder! But than again, by adding that 45 grains of lot “1†powder to your new pound of powder “A†lot "2â€, you may have created the most prefect powder “A†you’ve ever used.

If you throw it away, you’ll never know.

I was bored too.

Throw it in the yard and you'll get your nickels worth of fertilizer.

I mix the lots, all the time. However, I almost never load "maximium" loads, and my accuracy standards are not that high.

If the lot # is the same (A) will be just fine.

Id probably use it. but ive got 1kg containers of powder. 2.2 pounds... think thats like 15000grains. doubt anyone could ever tell the difference! i think that works out at .3%

Assuming you are going to work up your next load and are not starting with max loads, I would dump it in.

45gr into 7000gr isn't going to make a big difference unless it was a different kind of powder.

If I have a really great load worked up for a gun and am down to my last 15% of the powder in that canister I will load all of that powder and make more wonder rounds. Otherwise I know I have to go to the next lot of powder and I pour that fresh lot of powder into a small ice cream pail with that little bit of my old powder and mix it up good and it becomes my new lot of powder.

Learn to check your remaining powder and determine that it will load your entire lot.

I never contaminate one batch of powder with another. Even with the same lot number it may have absorbed some moisture.

Any left over lots are used in loads that are well off of maximums for paper punching....

I've done your option A many times. It never has caused any problems for me.

If you check the true density of each can of powder and label the can, you'll never again be in doubt. I do a lot of experimenting, so I have a lot of one pound cans, each labeled with the density. When I find a powder that works well, I may buy a bigger can the next time or if it is for a cartridge I do not shoot often, I may buy only another one pounder. If the powder in the new can is within 5% of the same density, I have no qualms about mixing.
The process is quite easy as you are going to be using your scale and such anyway. It actually take longer to write and spellcheck this than it does to calculate the density.

BTW, it seems like powder makers have better control of density than they used to, it's been a few years since I've had a new can of powder that was over 5% different than the last one. That's not to say it can't happen.

quote:

Originally posted by BigBlack:
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 Itâ€
B. Screw this little bit and “Toss Itâ€
And yes I am bored at work and my mind is all over the place.

Does anyone think choice "C" is worth thinking about (with all this boredness and extra time)?
That is, take the 45 leftover grains, add 25 grains from the new batch and load a round that will be marked as "odd" and not to be used for groups, hunting, competition or anything else of more importance than a "fouling" shot or "warmup" shot.

Let me also ask this: When you open up a new container of powder (same lot, or different lot, but same kind of powder) do you work up new accuracy loadings from scratch (or close to it) or just stick with your established loads? If you stick with your established loads, do you go back and re-verify your loadings' velocity, trajectory groupings, etc.?

Larry (Lost Sheep)