When you've got a good load and you run out of that lot of powder, is it necessary to check the new lot for accuracy before you use a bunch?

I've been told yes.

Will a new 8#'er give different results in general than your old one?

I would think that if 75gr of the old lot was best, that the new lot would be very close. Maybe some tweaking of charge weight will be necessary to achieve previous accuracy?

It is always a good idea to lower your load a smidge and work back up to it. You just might have a "Hot" lot of powder. I don't know what powder you are using but I do know that H322 has a tendancy for being a little different from lot to lot. Some times it can be uncomfortably warm.

Matt.

I note the velocity of my loads as I work up and record the various speeds at each charge increment. When I break out a new lot of powder I drop a couple grains and compare the velocity to what the old lot gave at that charge. If they match (rarely) or are within +/-25-30 fps of each other I go right to the old load. If not I rework the load.

Thanks.

I wish I would have done the load development with a fresh 8#'er, instead of the 1#'er!

I guess it would have at least delayed the re-working process for a while.

Just think about all that trigger time you get.Good Luck

rcamuglia ----- When I first started reloading I could hardly afford a pound of powder. Years later I can have a little more say about how to develope new loads. I never start with less than 4-5 pounds and preferably twice that. I load a lot of RL-22 and have 30 pounds of three lot numbers. When I work up that first load I are very close on all subsequent loads with different lots. When I change lots, I simply step back one grain and have never had a problem. Good shooting.

Thank you Gentlemen!

I would think the optimal charge weight would be very close with the new lot.

Good advice to back off a grain with the new lot and work up!

I back off 2% & work the load back up. Most powders are pretty stable from lot to lot but sometimes you get surprise.

Thanks Fred,

I have an idea; tell me if it's a bad one.

I have 2 - 8#'ers of powder. What about thoroughly mixing them together to make them homogenious; all the same as if one lot. They are both brand new.

At this point, re-work the load so as not to have to do this again until the 16#'s is gone.


Comments?

I'm not Fred,but my answer would be: "Blending jugs of the same powder designation is a very good approach."


In fact, it is essentially what the powder companies sometimes do in creating "cannistered" powders.

Despite all the improvements in modern manufactruring of chemical products, there ARE variations from lot to lot; sometimes substantial variations are the result.

When that happens, rather than just chuck the whole lot, they may choose to blend it with other lots until performance is within the desired parameters established for a particular powder designation.

Thanks.

That's my thinking as well

I have never blended powders of the same lot, and I will not start now. If I had the blending equipment necessary to do the job 100% free of errors, I would have no problem with it, however I don't have that equipment. Getting back to square one when changing lots is a very short few shots and then you are good to go. I am sure many people do blend, I just like to keep it simple and within my own parameters. Good shooting.

Thanks for the input; I'm good to go now!

You're not gonna believe this..........


When I posted this question, I had run down to the last 1 of 4-1#ers of W-780 that I had. They were all of the same lot #. I got them from a buddy of mine in Louisiana.

I ordered an 8#er from Grafs and then about 4 days later, ordered another 8#er from them (I know, I should have done it all at the same time to save on the haz fee, but oh well!)

I posted this question because I didn't think that there was any way in he11 I would get the same lot #'s

The first one showed up yesterday........with the same lot #. The second one showed up today with some primers (lucky me, and foreshadowing of more luck to come in the same box)........it has the same lot #!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I must be livin' right.

I keep away from maximum loads and use a new lot right out of the can.