Accidentally mixed two powders=kaboom?
- Thread starter SKS-Stu
- Start date
The safest thing to do would be to throw it out. But I know if it was me I would try using it in cases like the 44 mag with cast bullets and useing the lowest charges for Unique. Now this is not the safest thing to be doing but I have never been accused of being to smart.
Graydog
Graydog
If anything,.. you have weakend the blue dot powder. Can you scoop off the Unique powder ? ..or did you pour in back in the Blue dot container ? I did the same thing a few years back. I took a sharp blade, cut the jug around the top half and scooped off about an inch to make sure I got all the "other powder". As long as the bottle of Blue dot hasnt been shaken, the unique should still be on top.
I did the exxact same thing in the 1970s and tried to use the powder with medium loads, I fired two shots in my .357 and had the flattest primers I have ever seen. Dump the powder and call it a lesson learned, it is NOT worth the risk of damage to your firearm or YOU. Sometimes it doesn't pay to try and be a cheap bastard when you really being dumb as a box of rocks.
Below is food for thought, a photo from Google images of a S&W 29 Kaboom, and yes the end of his thumb is gone.
Below is food for thought, a photo from Google images of a S&W 29 Kaboom, and yes the end of his thumb is gone.
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This is where a Norinco 1911 would come in handy.
All you really need is a early model .40 Glock with an unsupported barrel.
OP, after you have thrown out your mixed powder, you should think about your reloading procedure.
One of the very basic safety rules in reloading is, "Have only one container of powder on your reloading bench when you are reloading, the powder you are using."
You violated this important safety rule of reloading.
What else are you doing wrong?
Only you will know, so take time out to study your reloading procedure.
One of the very basic safety rules in reloading is, "Have only one container of powder on your reloading bench when you are reloading, the powder you are using."
You violated this important safety rule of reloading.
What else are you doing wrong?
Only you will know, so take time out to study your reloading procedure.
Good advice. We all forget from time to time & need to be reminded.
Boom goes the dynamite!
I have seen quite a few blown up guns over the years. only one was mine (probably a double charged case).
The single most common way it was done was dumping pistol powder out of the powder thrower into a can of rifle powder on the bench.
This is why it is so critical that you dump the powder back into the can after the loading session is over and that you only HAVE ONE CAN ON THE BENCH AT A TIME.
If that was my can of Blue Dot, I would shake it up and use it. I would re-label it PURPLE DOT and use the Blue Dot starting loads only.
The single most common way it was done was dumping pistol powder out of the powder thrower into a can of rifle powder on the bench.
This is why it is so critical that you dump the powder back into the can after the loading session is over and that you only HAVE ONE CAN ON THE BENCH AT A TIME.
If that was my can of Blue Dot, I would shake it up and use it. I would re-label it PURPLE DOT and use the Blue Dot starting loads only.
gunrunner8
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Starting Blue Dot loads only with 50/50 Unique-Blue Dot mix?
Think again Ganderite, so far your record of mentoring the other shooters was clean....till today and that's as bad advice as they get!
Please OP listen to advice of others and dump the powder!
I expect the advice you're getting on ways to salvage the powder would probably work, but how much fun are you going to have using it ? Nothing but dummied down loads ? Tendencies to flinch ? IMHO, even fully discounting well meant warnings, it would be better to kiss off the 40 bux simply in the interest of having a good time. Buy a replacement pound of Vv N320 and really enjoy your shooting .
.My take on it is that the mix is NOT 50/50. He said "dumped some left over Unique powered into an almost full bottle Blue Dot"
If can was almost full, the Unique cannot be 50%. A Blue Dot Start load is not much more than a Unique Max load. So even if it was 50%, I believe a Start charge of BD would be OK. Since the mix sounds like a 20-80, my suggestion is conservative.
BTW, in the factory I have seen similar accidents involving several hundred pounds of one powder being added accidently to a ton or so of another. We tested, calibrated and used it, every time.
We got approval from NARCAN authorities to use rifle powder than had been contaminated with pistol powder. The powder was mixed thoroughly and used to make match ammo. I still have a few drums of that powder and use it all the time.
Just start low, work up, as with any other new powder.
Or toss it. One can is not enough to lose any sleep (or body parts) over.
Ganderite is guilty of thinking again, rather than just jumping aboard the safety train.
To be fair though, there's not a lot of info here. To the point, how much Unique was dumped in? 1%? 10%? Was any scooped off, and if not does the opportunity remain? It will stay on top unless vigourously shaken, which is tough with an almost full container. I suppose there are those who would throw out 8 lbs of powder if one grain of a different powder was dropped in, but with a few grains of Unique in almost a pound of Blue Dot (either initially or after removing the top layer), I'd certainly mix it up and use it.
To be fair though, there's not a lot of info here. To the point, how much Unique was dumped in? 1%? 10%? Was any scooped off, and if not does the opportunity remain? It will stay on top unless vigourously shaken, which is tough with an almost full container. I suppose there are those who would throw out 8 lbs of powder if one grain of a different powder was dropped in, but with a few grains of Unique in almost a pound of Blue Dot (either initially or after removing the top layer), I'd certainly mix it up and use it.
I'm with Ganderite, shake the crap out of it and use it as though it was a slow batch of Unique or a hot batch of blue dot. I would be willing to bet there are greater differences from one lot to the next of blue dot than 5-10% unique mix will make. Just remember to shake well before each loading session. But then, I live on the edge all the time...........I use an unidentified mix of rifle powder from pulled ammo over the years for fireforming cases, I just load it as though it were a fast burning rifle powder and have yet to have a mishap. Sometimes I'm too conservative and have to bump it up a bit to form properly.
