Reloading with the wrong powder. (graphic)

I'll bet an old large ring Mauser would of saved the guys fingers. A very experienced guy at my club did the same thing. Not sure of the rifle make but it was a $2000 piece. The action was ruined but it all stayed intact lucky for him. I know I could use pistol powder in reloading 303 Brit and get a lot out of a lb of powder but I won't do it. A reduced load of the proper rifle powder keeps me comfortable.
 
Look at the above picture and tell me that would would risk that for forty dollars. Tell me that there is no dust mixing or broken flakes.
 
... Having seen a few "Blown Up" Handguns and Rifles, ( Both at Gunsmiths and the Crime Lab ) consequently, I take nothing for granted. Thus, there's only ONE Powder in use at a time.The rest are out of sight in the cupboard! .....The Powder Thrower has a masking tape label on it, showing what powder it contains. Plus, I have a "White Board" above the 'bench, written on it in BIG Letters, what my current recipe is ! And all loads are visually checked for double charges before the bullet is seated.....'Load only one caliber at a time, and never 'loading pistol and rifle at the same time !!! ...... And no F.... distractions allowed when I'm reloading!!! ......I'm a belt and braces type of guy, and don't I believe in tempting fate!!! LOL !!! ........ David K
 
farmboy108 said:
Look at the above picture and tell me that would would risk that for forty dollars. Tell me that there is no dust mixing or broken flakes.
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None whatsoever. We used both lots of powder to exhaustion with no issues. Jeeeez!

After 50 years of reloading, you might guess we have an idea what is safe and what is not....this is not pistol powder vs rifle powder here, but 2 powders with virtually identical burn rates....!!! ??

Since both H5010 and H870 are NLA, we wanted to save them for developed loads, so went the extra mile to separate them.
 
The mixing of powders can produce burn rates far different from either of the two powders that were mixed. I held a commercial loading license for a number of years.
 
farmboy108 said:
The mixing of powders can produce burn rates far different from either of the two powders that were mixed. I held a commercial loading license for a number of years.
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Agree wholeheartedly, but the two were separated before they were used, so no real issues left to consider.

If you held a commercial reloading license, then you are well aware that 1 or 2 kernels of another powder in a
75-90 grain charge will have exactly zero effect, overall.

Regards, Dave.
 
When Energy mines and resources tests ammo if there was mixed powder you would not get or continue to have a license. It is not a safe practice because you got away with it. As a long time reloader it is your responsibility to be very careful what you post as the new reloaders will look up to you. You did a wonderful job being careful and seeing the powder mix. One is never to identify powders by looking at them every reloading manual states that and only one of the two powders was listed on the can. I am not trying to be mean or pick on you. I have made mistakes as well.
 
Mark-II said:
I take out the bottle, look at the logo, read the label, speak the label, and confirm what I have read. I'll leave powder in a measure over a week or so, if I'm loading on and off, but there's only one powder out and the canister is next to the measure.

Goes the same if I am doing load development and using 2 or 3 different powders. 1 out at a time, confirm powder, confirm data - I'll write down on a sheet of paper each load increment that I wish to load with each powder, just to make certain that I don't go back and mis-read the data.

I have no radio, no TV, no phone, no tablet, no tumbler or any other distracting noise makers around when I'm doing my loading, especially with the progressive press where I need to listen to every sound, feel every nuance of the action, and be in a state of situational awareness to make certain that it is always running right.
Though Not Running Right just means I'm using my squib rod to hammer duds from the barrel, rather than blowing myself up.

Yes, being anal is a good way to keep it healthy n fun.
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This thread has a couple of very good posts that should be reviewed annually by anyone who does any reloading of more than one caliber or uses more than one powder. Having said that, human factors will get in the way unless you are truly vigilant.

Does anyone else remember why 12 gauge ammo is a different colour from 20 gauge ammo? (or at least it was for years...I haven't seen any 20 gauge in a long long time)
 
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