Two questions for the group:

1. I have a small amount of H4831. Can I dump it into the H4831SC just to get rid of it? I load the SC now since it measures better. I'd think I could, since they're ballistically identical...but the warning bells are going off.

2. I have an *old* pound of H4831. It must be 8 years old (long story) but I couldn't tell you how its been stored. I've had it the whole time, its just been floating around in different boxes as I moved. I understand that powder smells funny when it goes bad. This just smells like powder to me. How do I tell if its bad?

Thanks!

jeff

This is my answer. There will be others...

1. Yes, you can mix the two powders as long as they come from the same manufacturer. Rework your loads as you would with a new lot number from the same powder. You will most likely alter the burn rate somewhat.

2. Smell, color, and then chrono. These are the only ways to determine if you have "bad" powder. If the powder was in a properly sealed container, you should be great to go with no problems. I have only seen two containers of bad powder. Both had a reddish (rust) color and a "rotten egg" type smell.

yup to what zero sez. If you don't have a chrony, load say five rounds with a moderate charge of H4831sc and load five rounds using the old stuff. If both groups shoot to the same point at 100yds, I'd say the old stuff was close enough for gov'ment work.

Considering the price of powder, why in hell would you even consider it?

I admit that I am gunshy about mixed powders. I once blew a shotgun nearly in two when shooting some loads that someone else had concocted using two different powders.

Like I said, I'm chicken in this regard, I won't even mix two different lots of the same powder.

I don't shoot anyone elses loads either.

But then again, you've got two eyes, you can spare one can't you!

JMac - There is a HUGE difference between a duplexed load and mixing powder lots. In fact, if you purchase several containers of the same powder but different lot numbers, it is a very good idea to mix the lots to help eliminate deviations in burn rates between the two.

You are absolutely on target regarding limiting risk. Powder is amazingly cheap when compared to fingers and eyes. Alwyas err on the side of caution. Above everything else, never shoot your buddy�s reloads because you could lose a friend and an eye at the same time.

It would be prudent to compare data between your two variations of "4831" and note the performance differences when using the same bullet and grain-weight of charge.

Frankly, I consider this kind of mixing to be unwise both from the standpoint of altered burning rates and the potential contamination posed by the older powder.

The most prudent course is to use the old powder first and THEN switch to the younger. Be aware: the 1960s-vintage H-4831 now is going bad and in many instances should not be used. This powder was salvaged from WW II production, as I understand it.

Paladin

Zero, the load that I was involved with wasn't a duplexed (ala' Keith) but just a pure mixing of powders.

The chucklehead who was using the reloader, saw he was getting low and went to Wal-Mart and got some more powder. Powder is powder isn't it?

The fact he went to Wally world to buy powder tells you it was a few years ago.

Then a second person comes along and loads some shells and loans them to me. Boom!

Also, one of the tech people at Hodgdon told me via e-mail that H4831 and H4831SC were different powders that just happened to have the same burn rate. Since burning rate is dependant on composition, granule size and coating (among other things), mixing the two could be a mistake.

It just ain't worth the risk to me.

Joe.

JMac - From the Hodgdon web site...

H4831� It is probably safe to say more big game has been taken with H4831 than any other powder. Bruce Hodgdon was the first supplier to introduce this popular burning rate in 1950. Since that time it has become a favorite for cartridges like the 270 Winchester, 25-06 Remington, 280 Remington and 300 Winchester Magnum. As an Extreme Extruded propellant it shares the fine quality of insensitivity to hot/cold temperatures, as well as superb uniformity from lot to lot.

H4831SC� Ballistically, this Extreme Extrude powder is the exact copy of H4831. Physically, it has a shorter grain size, therefore, the designation SC or short cut. The shorter, more compact kernels allow the powder to flow through the powder measures more smoothly, helping to alleviate the constant cutting of granules. With the smoother flow characteristics comes more uniform charge weights, while the individual grains orient more compactly, creating better loading density.

You are correct - If there is any question, don't do it.

Ahhhhhhh yes, the old "I've loaded up some weird shit here and need to find someone to shoot it for me" ploy. The lesson to be learned is not about mixing like powders; but rather, never shoot reloads that don't come from your own little pinkies.

1. No, u can not mix h4831 and h4831sc. Set your powder measure to throw a charge with one powder. Let the measure set at the same setting, throwing the powder by volume. Weight both powders with the measure at the same setting, note the differerce in weight of the charge between the 2 powders. 2. Bad powder- Red rust.

I went through the same thing with H4831 when I changed over to the SC version. I simply used up the long grain version first as to not completely spoil myself to the easy metering, then I broke out the SC.

Nothing good can come from mixing the two lots of powder, especially with the different physical size granules.

As for your eight year-old powder, unless something extreme in the way of exposure to either very harsh conditions or some chemical has happened, it is way too young to go bad. I have quite a bit of the original H-4831 (war surplus) that is over 50 years old, and it is perfect in every way. It isn't even stored in a climate-controlled environment.