Anyone ever mix powders?

[damndave]

Toss it on the front lawn. The RULE is to NEVER mix powders and is said for a reason.

[Whiterabbit]

mixing powders was common "in the old days" when powder choices were slim. Folks would look for that perfect combo to get the best performance for the application they had.

Today, we have every powder you could want and there are still new ones coming down the pipe. There is simply no need.

Combine that with two facts:

1. the knowledge/experience of producing duplex or mixed loads is dying or dead, and not often if at all published anymore. Therefore, reasoned mixology information is difficult or impossible to find.

2. In your case, the mixing was accidental therefore not reasoned, and the results would and should be contemplated carefully before loading and shooting.

In otherwords, its risky and there's not much research you can do short of finding a really old guy to ping for advice who happens to have experimented with similar powders.

Best to compost it.

[fal_762x51]

Invest in a reloading manual.

[call-in]

Invest in a reloading manual.

Not sure I understand, but besides the "Don't mix powders" warning printed on the manual, how would this help the OP?

[Whiterabbit]

it wouldn't. It's the knee jerk reaction for everything on this forum. Including for questions where the old-timers actually have good information to pass down.

It's one reason that, for *real* reloading wisdom, Calguns is not the place to get it.

[tiller]

The real question is why would you mix the powders in the first place???

I dont understand how this could or would happen?

[Bill Steele]

The real question is why would you mix the powders in the first place???

I dont understand how this could or would happen?

Bad reloading practices. I have done it, had some BL-C(2) on the bench and was using 4064 in my drop. After I had the rounds I wanted loaded, I mindlessly dumped the nearly full hopper of 4064 into the BL-C(2) bottle.

After mixing the two as entirely as possible, I worked up a load using the 4064 start numbers. The powder shot fine in my 308's, but for a reason probably someone at Hodgdon could only explain, it burned incredibly dirty. It worked, but never did shoot as well as either powder separately.

I think when loading rifle powders, if you keep an eye on the fastest powder in the mix numbers, you likely won't get too sideways.

For pistol and shot shell powders I think things can get a little more complex a little faster. Even powders that appear to have everything going for them for a given caliber (like Blue Dot in 41 Mag for instance), something crops up where the manufacturers just says don't load it.

In any case, that is why people say one bottle on the bench at a time.

Best to chuck it.

[XDRoX]

Back in the day it was common practice. And I'm not talking about mixing two similar powders. I'm talking about mixing bullseye and unique or unique and 2400. There just weren't that many powder choices out there. Nowadays it seems silly but back then it wasn't uncommon.

Of course the safe thing to do is just discard it. But I'd bet I could get it to shoot. Just use the American Select data and I'm sure it would work fine.

The difficult part is trying to get a proper blend. Unless you throw it in a mixing bowl really go at it the rounds would most likely be very inconsistent.

But like others have said, the safest thing to do especially if you're not experienced, is just toss it.

[chknlyps2]

I take old primer sleeves and cut them into business card sizes and write the name of the powder on the white (back side). Some cards I also put a favorite load or two on and I slip it into the hopper and fill with that powder. There are times I leave a hopper with powder in it for a couple days if I am short on time and only load for a short time each evening, when I am done I know exactly what powder is left even if I put the jug away a couple days before.

[five.five-six]

I take old primer sleeves and cut them into business card sizes and write the name of the powder on the white (back side). Some cards I also put a favorite load or two on and I slip it into the hopper and fill with that powder. There are times I leave a hopper with powder in it for a couple days if I am short on time and only load for a short time each evening, when I am done I know exactly what powder is left even if I put the jug away a couple days before.

I do the same thing, well, I use real business cards.

[Swagman00]

Yes, just reduce from max load by 10% and you will be GTG.

See this handy instructional video:

This had me rolling!

That 2/3 of powder you have there is still good for helping the grass grow or you can light it off. For even more fun mix some magnesium flakes in there.

[the86d]

Well, if you were to take the load you were doing for each average them, make sure that they are thoroughly mixed then reduce by 10% for a starting load and then work up from there... wouldn't that be safe?
(I don't do max-loads, so I would probably do this if it was mine. I hate wasting reloading components, in this day and age where they are scarce and as part of the whole process is saving money too.)

What were the powder drops in grains of each one for your loads you were doing?

Edit: I'd do it for 9mm with non-max loads, but I don't know about shot-shells...

[fal_762x51]

It has everything to do with investing in a manual and reading it. I would like the OP to retain his fingers and life. Sorry if I came off as snide, but I like people to be safe and if I am the guy shooting next to them...

[milw50717]

Well, if you were to take the load you were doing for each average them, make sure that they are thoroughly mixed then reduce by 10% for a starting load and then work up from there... wouldn't that be safe?

Who wants to be the first to find out ?

I'm a firm believer in not mixing powders. Call me cautious.

[the86d]

... What were the powder drops in grains of each one for your loads you were doing?...

Just curious.