Toss it or Use it

BigBlack · 10-01-2008, 04:39 PM

Let me preface by saying I “Toss it” and it is against my logic to “Use it” but sometimes my logic is wrong so I am poking your minds!

Scenario: Loading up some big cartridge requiring 70grs of powder “A.” You are low and throw your last little bit and it only measures 45grs. You now open a brand new bottle of powder “A” do you:

A. Pour the charge you just threw in the new bottle, shake it up and “Use It”
B. Screw this little bit and “Toss It”
And yes I am bored at work and my mind is all over the place.

Pyro01 · 10-01-2008, 04:57 PM

I'd say A. No sense letting it go to waste so long as it's the same brand and relatively new(the stuff you originally put in the cartridge that is).

Packerfan2600 · 10-01-2008, 05:57 PM

I'd go A as long as the powder fineness doesn't differ greatly

Big Dog · 10-01-2008, 06:17 PM

I'd be safe and put it in the wife's flower garden.
Load with all new powder.

Midas · 10-01-2008, 06:18 PM

Toss it.

gandog56 · 10-01-2008, 06:24 PM

I would just add enough of the new powder to make 1 round, but would not throw it in the new powder.

Peashooter · 10-01-2008, 06:25 PM

There is no guarantee that your new lot of powder will perform grain for grain the same as your old lot, agreed. It is splattered all over every manual I own, "Any time you change a component, you should start low and work back up", this includes a new lot of powder. So, if my new lot of powder is different and I must work back up, why not just mix them together and work back up with my own special lot# of powder?

I mix em.

sniper1958 · 10-01-2008, 07:04 PM

I say use it. Unless you are shooting high stakes (money involved) competition, changing powder lots won't have that much impact on your bullet's impact. If your group changes from .50" to .55", either deal with it or buy a boatload of the same components, from the same lots, manufactured by the same shift at the same facility and rest easy.

gandog56 · 10-01-2008, 11:27 PM

It wouldn't matter if you bought a ton of the same lot powder. Just sitting and aging will change it.

I say don't worry about it.

toolman · 10-01-2008, 11:34 PM

70 grains won't affect a full bottle of powder as long as they're the same type.

jimkim · 10-02-2008, 12:32 AM

I don't think it would do anything bad if you mixed it. It still violates one of the safety rules though. That said I would toss it in the rose garden. It would suck but I would still toss it. One more thing. NEVER NEVER NEVER mix powder from two different containers in the same case!!!!!!

tracer · 10-02-2008, 12:48 AM

GEE that is a good question, I'd say toss it. Just beacause youre loading the best ammo you can,right?

Mooseman684 · 10-02-2008, 01:48 AM

I open cans as I am Loading and dump them in the powder measure, on top of what was in the previous can....If it is the SAME powder, just add to it and keep loading. Never had a problem, because If I Load 500 rounds, it takes 4-5 1lb. cans to load them all and 8 lb. kegs are hard to come by in Alaska....
I have sealed cans of powder over 20 years old And it does not change velocity or Burn characteristics, or it would change in Loaded ammo Too, that was stored for any length of time...
Rich

tracer · 10-02-2008, 10:00 PM

Thats very true...Ok I'm with mooseman now! ^^^^ what he says yeah

big boomer · 10-02-2008, 10:36 PM

I would mix the last little bit in with the new can but then I don't load max loads,more like in the middle.

Airweight38 · 10-03-2008, 01:23 PM

I would use it. In fact, I have before on smaller loads without incident.

BigBlack · 10-03-2008, 05:38 PM

Thanks to all

deadman03 · 10-03-2008, 05:55 PM

last time i finished one bottle i didnt even think about this, but i was using the same powder and was not loading to the max either. not that i have thought about i will through away the last tiny bit of powder.

10-01-2008, 04:39 PM	#1
BigBlack Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Lyons, GA Posts: 21	Toss it or Use it Let me preface by saying I “Toss it” and it is against my logic to “Use it” but sometimes my logic is wrong so I am poking your minds! Scenario: Loading up some big cartridge requiring 70grs of powder “A.” You are low and throw your last little bit and it only measures 45grs. You now open a brand new bottle of powder “A” do you: A. Pour the charge you just threw in the new bottle, shake it up and “Use It” B. Screw this little bit and “Toss It” And yes I am bored at work and my mind is all over the place.

10-01-2008, 04:57 PM	#2
Pyro01 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Midwestern WI Posts: 52 Images: 3	I'd say A. No sense letting it go to waste so long as it's the same brand and relatively new(the stuff you originally put in the cartridge that is). __________________ Hahaha, suck railgun wabbit!

10-01-2008, 05:57 PM	#3
Packerfan2600 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 164	I'd go A as long as the powder fineness doesn't differ greatly __________________ Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected become the expected?

10-01-2008, 06:17 PM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,412	I'd be safe and put it in the wife's flower garden. Load with all new powder. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

10-01-2008, 06:18 PM	#5
Midas Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,899 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	Toss it. __________________ "Recoil lasts for a second, gravity lasts forever"

10-01-2008, 06:24 PM	#6
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 5,617	I would just add enough of the new powder to make 1 round, but would not throw it in the new powder.

10-01-2008, 06:25 PM	#7
Peashooter Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 15	There is no guarantee that your new lot of powder will perform grain for grain the same as your old lot, agreed. It is splattered all over every manual I own, "Any time you change a component, you should start low and work back up", this includes a new lot of powder. So, if my new lot of powder is different and I must work back up, why not just mix them together and work back up with my own special lot# of powder? I mix em.

10-01-2008, 07:04 PM	#8
sniper1958 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 167	I say use it. Unless you are shooting high stakes (money involved) competition, changing powder lots won't have that much impact on your bullet's impact. If your group changes from .50" to .55", either deal with it or buy a boatload of the same components, from the same lots, manufactured by the same shift at the same facility and rest easy.

10-01-2008, 11:27 PM	#9
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 5,617	It wouldn't matter if you bought a ton of the same lot powder. Just sitting and aging will change it. I say don't worry about it.

10-01-2008, 11:34 PM	#10
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,852 Blog Entries: 24	70 grains won't affect a full bottle of powder as long as they're the same type. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

10-02-2008, 12:32 AM	#11
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,288 Blog Entries: 15	I don't think it would do anything bad if you mixed it. It still violates one of the safety rules though. That said I would toss it in the rose garden. It would suck but I would still toss it. One more thing. NEVER NEVER NEVER mix powder from two different containers in the same case!!!!!! __________________ "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."

10-02-2008, 12:48 AM	#12
tracer Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: LHC AZ Posts: 213	GEE that is a good question, I'd say toss it. Just beacause youre loading the best ammo you can,right? __________________ IGNORE YOUR RIGHTS AND THEY WILL GO AWAY

10-02-2008, 01:48 AM	#13
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 10,524 Images: 2	I open cans as I am Loading and dump them in the powder measure, on top of what was in the previous can....If it is the SAME powder, just add to it and keep loading. Never had a problem, because If I Load 500 rounds, it takes 4-5 1lb. cans to load them all and 8 lb. kegs are hard to come by in Alaska.... I have sealed cans of powder over 20 years old And it does not change velocity or Burn characteristics, or it would change in Loaded ammo Too, that was stored for any length of time... Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

10-02-2008, 10:00 PM	#14
tracer Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: LHC AZ Posts: 213	Thats very true...Ok I'm with mooseman now! ^^^^ what he says yeah __________________ IGNORE YOUR RIGHTS AND THEY WILL GO AWAY

10-02-2008, 10:36 PM	#15
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 1,238	I would mix the last little bit in with the new can but then I don't load max loads,more like in the middle.

10-03-2008, 01:23 PM	#16
Airweight38 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 176	I would use it. In fact, I have before on smaller loads without incident. __________________ "Trust me; I know what I'm doing!"

10-03-2008, 05:38 PM	#17
BigBlack Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Lyons, GA Posts: 21	Thanks to all

10-03-2008, 05:55 PM	#18
deadman03 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: nc Posts: 311	last time i finished one bottle i didnt even think about this, but i was using the same powder and was not loading to the max either. not that i have thought about i will through away the last tiny bit of powder.