Same Powder - Different Lots

Magnum_Tom

Magnum_Tom

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When you get new powder (same brand and type as before) but from a different lot, do you go through and re-work your loads. Or do you just keep going with the load you came up with in previous lots?

Thanks,

Tom
 
I usually just keep the same load unless something wonky shows up right away. I don't load at max as I have found my rifles' sweet spots before it gets hot. More folks may be more anal than I, no issues to report lot to lot as of yet.
 
There are all kinds of "lawyer safe warnings" about this stuff on the cans and on websites. But in reality, unless you are on the razors edge of max loading, dont worry about it. They also say you should never mix from one lot to the next but I've done that 100 times. When my old keg has a few ouces left in it, i just pour it into the new keg and carry on. Never had an issue, but I load around 90% of max so even if there is a slight change in burn rate, i will never notice. +P Loads are a different story and should be worked up with every new batch of powder IMO
 
I usually take the last few lbs from one 8 pounder and mix it with the next 8 pounder. Shake it up and mix it back and forth between the 2 jugs a few times. Never had an issue that I can find between 2 lots of the same powder. Been using the same load for over 10-12 years without having to tweak the powder charge.
 
None of my loads in either rifle or pistol are near max so I use the same loads I've previously worked up,I only tweak it if I notice something erratic so far I've not had to do that.

When possible I try and buy my powders in 4 lb canisters it's a bit cheaper that way and in most cases loast a very long time.
 
I always chronograph the load when changing to a new lot of powder. I have found differences of over 100fps from one lot to another, but they are usually much closer.
 
As a powder is exposed to the air in your thrower, it dries out and speeds up. This is why you sometimes hear that the new lot is "slower" than the old one. The truth is that the old one got faster. This is why powder should not be left in the thrower.

When you buy a new can/jug/drum, mix the old powder in with it and carry on. I once had so many odds n ends of 4895 that I had to mix it all in a garbage can to make one big lot of uniform powder.
 
Ganderite said:
As a powder is exposed to the air in your thrower, it dries out and speeds up. This is why you sometimes hear that the new lot is "slower" than the old one. The truth is that the old one got faster. This is why powder should not be left in the thrower.

When you buy a new can/jug/drum, mix the old powder in with it and carry on. I once had so many odds n ends of 4895 that I had to mix it all in a garbage can to make one big lot of uniform powder.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I would have thought this is a no-no but I have 3 different lots of BLC2 and no loads worked up with it yet so now would be a good time to mix it all.

Thanks!
 
In my 45/70's I have had up to 3 gr difference in order to get equal velocities with AA2015 and H322! I usually load a few rounds with a starting to mid range charge and chronograph them to let me know what I've got with the new lot. Always better to be safe than sorry!
 
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