We know that large manufacturers “blend” their production lots of specific powders to produce minimal lot to lot variations.
And
Given that there are some powders with reputations for changing / fluctuating from lot to lot; i.e. Varget comes to mind…
Also given that it can be problematic to get a quantity of say 8 lb’ers - be it from supply or sales limits…
Has anyone tried blending, say 2, 3 or 4 8lb jugs from different lot numbers to produce a large quantity of consistent powder?
I am sure that there are loaders out there that have experienced frustrations at opening up a new jug and finding that they need to rework their load to get the same performance.
It also stands to reason that some of us have requested the same lot #'s from retailers only to find 4 diffent lot #'s - not cool.
Bear in mind, this isn’t really applicable to bang bang shoot’em up blasting ammo, but rather high end, serious precision long range stuff. Nothing sucks worse that having to re-engineer a LR load with a new lot of powder before a big match.
I’ve always mixed like powders together. If I buy a couple of 1 lb cans, I’ll toss 'em right into the 8 lb jug I’m working out of. I’ll consolidate all of it into the fewest amount of containers possible. Never had an issue. I’m not a hardcore precision shooter though either.
This is one of those things I never would have considered. I have 12 lbs of H335 in 5 different containers and 4 different lots. Time to make a Hodgdon Martini.
I do not blend, even when benchrest shooting will finish up a 8lb jug and start another if the POI changes then will shoot across a chony to see what’s going on. And bump powder up or down to get back into the sweet spot.
This what I have tradionally done - but as time has really become a premium, I would relish consistency. I have 32lbs of Varget - and 4 different lot numbers. This basically works out to just under 5K rounds of 308 - which is the life of the bbl. If I can remove a variable for this bbl or even just this shooting season, I am better off as I would rather be practicing position & wind calls vs tweaking charges because of lot to lot variances.
Looks like it’s time to hijack the wifes Kitchen Aid mixer…
This brings up my question: what is the best way (safe, with even distribution of different lot# after mixing) way to blend powder. I mean, I could hijack my wifes Kitchen Aid as well, but if I ruin it…
So - first, my comment about the Kitchen Aid mixer was a joke - probably should have said that…LOL
If she caught me doing that, lets just say high order detonation would be the result.
Seriously though - Masan brings up a good point. With a large quantity of powder, reasoning would dictate mixing small equal batches of each lot number. Thinking maybe 4oz of each into a 1lb container and a few rolls on the work bench, then dump into a big container.
Thoughts?
Might have to tune into the Food Network and watch some of their cooking shows… (another joke)
ETA: Mandatory disclaimer here - not advocating that anyone try this. It is well known that over agitation of powder can have a dangerous effect on burn rates - deterent coatings can be worn off and dangerous pressures can result. So for the sake of safety and arguement this is a hypothetical discussion.
I don’t think I could guarantee I would be able to blend powder from different containers as efficiently as a powder manufacturer does. I also don’t have the equipment to test powder burn rates and other properties after I finished mixing the powder.
When I finish an 8 lb. container of powder, such as Varget, and open a new container, I chronograph the first 5 rounds out of the new container and compare the readings to data I have on hand. If I see a significant difference in muzzle velocity, extreme spread or standard deviation, the powder in the new container is used for loads that will be shot at 500 yards and closer. I generally get 1,000 to 1,200 loads out of an 8 lb. canister, so it does not take long to use it up.
If I had the means to properly blend powder, I would still test the first 5 rounds from the blended powder be it 8 lbs. or 80 lbs.
If you do blend say four 8lb jugs of Varget, and do not get a good mix all thru the lot. It would be adding another variable that would be very hard to figure out.
I know someone at a powder place and will give him a call and ask how do they blend the powder?
I may test this with a small test batch - on the order of maybe 120 grs per lot (x4) - That’ll give me enough to load 10rds and test it against 10 rds from each of the other lots. If nothing else comes of it - I’ll have 50 fire formed cases. I don’t have the luxury of relegating powder to short range stuff. This is all tagged for 800/900/1000 yds for a Palma rifle.
I have been googling methods to blend powders and it uncovered a ton of hits on forums all over the place - it seems to be a hotly debated topic. There are some STRONG opinions out there. :blink:
Some do it all the time and have done so for years and others chime in that it is to be avoided - so I guess to each their own. Clearly this would be with new powder and I would never blend a new jug with an older one. As I have come to find out also, some powders like AA2520 (IIRC) have been mfr’d in 4 or 5 different countries. I wouldn’t blend these either. This really is strictly one type / different lot no’s / new powder - looking for uniform consistency for a large batch of powder/ammo.
I may run a small batch test as I outlined above and run them over a chrono / I may also be able to borrow a strain gauge from work to measure chamber pressures.
Definitely not a dangerous thing - but an exercise in seeing if it is worth the trouble.
Engineering types would say that you can never mix powder perfectly as it’s not liquid. But if you’re not expecting the lowest ES/SD possible, or you’re not at a max load already, you probably will never notice mixed/blended lots.
If I were blending 8lbs jugs, then I would dump them all in a 5 gallon bucket, secure the lid, and just roll it around the garage floor a bit. That’s not going to agitate the powder any more than shipping it did…
FWIW, inbetween reloading sessions I dump the powder back in the jug it came in, and I usually invert/roll the jug a bit before the next session to “remix” the powder… I live in a humid area, and I worry a bit about the powder soaking up humidity.
I have spoken with a tech at hogdon that said the coatings will not wear off. He said they are impregnated throughout the powder. I still dont vigorously shake the powder when blending. I just fill a small bucket probably 2 gallon put on the lid and roll it. Then I will flip it upside down, and back upright multiple times. Then I fill my containers, and I write my own lot number on it.
I donot have any sophisticated means to test how well its blended, but as I type this I have all my fingers and I have never blown up a firearm yet. It may happen one day, but im pretty cautious with reloading.
