Lot to lot variation in powder.

[jonesy]

I've got a question for everyone here. I'll probably get conflicting answers, but that's okay. Just want to hear what everyone has to say.

I'm reloading for a 260 Rem rifle. I'm getting into competitions with it, and want to make my hand loads as consistent as possible. With that in mind, I'm going to start loading batches of 1000 rounds (maybe more) instead of doing batches of 100 or so. This way I can get zeroed, confirm dope, and compete in up to (maybe) three matches with a single batch of super consistent ammo.

My question is this: How worried should I be about lot to lot variation in powder? I'm loading my 260's with 1k of the same primer per batch, H4350, RP brass, and Berger 140 gr Hybrids. Everything should be the exact same except for the lot of powder I'll be using per 1000 rounds.

What are your thoughts?

 

[M14 Shooter]

I would just chronograph the differnt lots to see if there is a large diffrence in muzzle velocity.

Regards,Mike

 

[jonesy]

I would just chronograph the differnt lots to see if there is a large diffrence in muzzle velocity.

Regards,Mike

Yes, that's what I would do. I want to be able to load 1000 rounds and not have to worry about velocity changes, etc while I'm burning through them though. Just wondering how much of a difference I'll see in velocity between lots? 5-10 fps, 10-20 fps?

 

[MJY65]

If you have enough powder on hand, why not just blend/mix the different lots together? Any variation wil be equalized throughout the batch.

 

[silentbushmaster]

Buy an 8 pound can of powder and test it with Chrono and then load a few. That is if you are set on a load, if not, it would be a pain to pull that many bullets.

 

[insight3b]

Every powder is sensitive to different temperatures and inconsistent from lot-to-lot. Buying the same lot in bulk will help minimize load development headaches but it won't change inconsistencies or sensitivity. Some powders are better than others and some powder manufacturers are better in duplicating powder recipes but ALL powder falls to these two detriments

 

[jdgray]

I lost almost 200fps between lots of Varget, was eye opening to say the least! Buy in bulk, if possible, or check with a chrony.

 

[jonesy]

Buy an 8 pound can of powder and test it with Chrono and then load a few. That is if you are set on a load, if not, it would be a pain to pull that many bullets.

This would probably work. I think I can do 1000 rounds with 1 8lb jug.

If you have enough powder on hand, why not just blend/mix the different lots together? Any variation wil be equalized throughout the batch.

I don't see why this wouldn't work... I'll probably start doing this since I've bought all my powder in 1lb jugs so far, then I'll switch to 8 pounders.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

 

[BobinNC]

This would probably work. I think I can do 1000 rounds with 1 8lb jug.



I don't see why this wouldn't work... I'll probably start doing this since I've bought all my powder in 1lb jugs so far, then I'll switch to 8 pounders.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Jonesy,

Will it work, sure it will work. But some things to keep in mind BEFORE you proceed.

Summer vs Winter loads - make sure what ever load you select will work accurately and pressure free at all ranges contemplated in 30 to 90 degree temperature days.

Bullets - Berger Hybrids run $43.00 per hundred or $430. per K. Hornady A-Max 140's run $31. per hundred or $310. per K. Berger G7 .317 Hornady A-Max G7 .299 Berger is better, but $120. better???

Brass - Rem brass is cheap, at about $450. per K. and requires a bunch of case prep to uniform it. Lapua brass cost more than twice as much, but lasts twice as long and sometimes longer and case prep is as close to nill as you can get.

 

[jonesy]

Jonesy,

Will it work, sure it will work. But some things to keep in mind BEFORE you proceed.

Summer vs Winter loads - make sure what ever load you select will work accurately and pressure free at all ranges contemplated in 30 to 90 degree temperature days.

Bullets - Berger Hybrids run $43.00 per hundred or $430. per K. Hornady A-Max 140's run $31. per hundred or $310. per K. Berger G7 .317 Hornady A-Max G7 .299 Berger is better, but $120. better???

Brass - Rem brass is cheap, at about $450. per K. and requires a bunch of case prep to uniform it. Lapua brass cost more than twice as much, but lasts twice as long and sometimes longer and case prep is as close to nill as you can get.

These are all very good suggestions, thank you. I already have 1100 Berger Hybrids, so I'll load at least my first 1k rounds with them. I may end up switching to the Amaxes later on. I have ~500 of them that I'm going to try out for awhile.

As for Lapua brass, I just cannot justify paying the extra $0.60 per round, especially when I'll be shooting matches and may not be able to collect all my brass after each stage. Like you said, sure Lapua is better, but $600/1k better? Right now, all I'm doing to uniform by RP brass is full length sizing them from the factory. Mostly it just uniforms the mouth with the expander ball in my FL die. Then I'll put a champher on the inside of the mouth and that's it.

Plus, I have found nowhere that proves that Lapua brass really will last twice as long as Remington brass. If I anneal after every third firing, shouldn't that elongate the life of the case to where it would be a wash between Lapua vs Remington?

 

[Niles Coyote]

I just started using H4350 last year when I received my 260 so I can’t comment on lot to lot variation but I do know the load I am using is a 1-2 grains heavier than what other folks are running in the 260 data thread so my powder may be slower than other lots.

That said, with other powders I have experience with when first get a new can, open and load it, I have seen a difference in velocity using the same weight when I load some more a few weeks later. This difference is not huge but it is there, maybe 25fps at most in a 308 size case... I suspect humidity might be the cause and the powder is picking up moisture and becoming heavier. For this reason I start looking for powder once I reach the half way mark in a container, be that 1 pound or 8 pounders. Then I blend them when the new powder arrives. This seems to have ended the variation... and keeps powder on the shelf during troubled times.

 

[jwp6114]

If you have enough powder on hand, why not just blend/mix the different lots together? Any variation wil be equalized throughout the batch.

This is what I was going to say...

Also, does all the brass have the same number of firings? Is it over 2 firings?

I really recommend annealing if you want to get consistent neck tension over all of them if it's mix'd brass.

 

[jonesy]

This is what I was going to say...

Also, does all the brass have the same number of firings? Is it over 2 firings?

I really recommend annealing if you want to get consistent neck tension over all of them if it's mix'd brass.

I have ~400 rounds that will be 2x fired, the rest will be new brass. I'll anneal every third firing.

EDIT: for consistency, I'll anneal all 1k after the first firing, that way they are all 1x, 2x, etc every batch