Blending powders

[mtmuley]

You will always run into particle size distribution and settling by particle size densities. What was once blended (mixture) is now multi stage ignition of who knows what on burn rates. Manufacturers struggle with this with mixtures in feed hoppers such agitation is required 100% of the time. Maybe if loaded and shot asap then maybe. Over time I can see particle size distribution happening over different densities and particle size. Now we all know powder pot numbers can be areal PITA, so add in that variable.

Just remember blended is fancy word for mixture which is not a compound and is not homogeneous.

The fella over there seems to have a handle on how he is doing it, until he doesn't. I wish him luck in his endeavors.

You have read his info. I don't give a shit who he is or what he knows, I am glad it won't be published info. mtmuley

 

[VAspeedgoat]

I've duplexed loads for our smokeless muzzleloaders. I absolutely love it. More reliable, more accurate, but a huge pain. I've heard the same things about some of the new powders like superformance and also the one about weatherby. The only guy I've ever heard talk about mixing had a chamber pressure guage and watched it as he worked up a load. I'd say without a very cautious approach and that guage, it's a death wish.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Here's my thoughts, if you want more performance, build rifle with specialty reamers like Serengeti Bore Rider, freebore and long magazine COAL capacity. You can achieve really good velocity jumps with straight powders without risk.

 

[cgasner1]

I’ll mix some stuff up for you guys. Free of charge even

 

[Potsie]

…and I get sketched out just opening a new bottle of Varget.

 

[grizzly63]

I bought an 8 lb jug of W760 that weighed 9.5 lbs. Got me thinking, sure enough, it had two kinds of powder in there. I found the right size strainer at Walmart and separated the two powders to my satisfaction. I took the 760 and loaded up some known loads and it was on the mark. Will not mention the other powder. There is an online site that has 10x pictures of powder for identification purposes if your brave enough to trust your eyes and brain. I personally think it is folly to mix powders. It is rocket science and your probably not a chemist so do not do it.

 

[antelopedundee]

I heard from an ol boy that weatherby blends powder to achieve their velocity in factory loads. Could be complete bullshit though.

If you have the lab and equipment to test them then I could see how they might do it. Need to be 100% mixed and uniform.

 

[kodiakisland]

I don’t shoot other peoples reloads. There’s way too much stupid and incompetence in the world.

 

[mtmuley]

I don’t shoot other peoples reloads. There’s way too much stupid and incompetence in the world.

I don't even post specific load data anymore. Nor do I use anyone else's. mtmuley

 

[std7mag]

Rumor has it that Hornady used to blend powders.
Hogdon then released the blended powders under their name with load data.
Specifically SuperPerformance, and Leverlution.

To try it on my own.
No thanks!

And I'll agree with @mtmuley.
I don't/won't post any load data of mine on an open forum.
And I don't use other people's loads.

 

[Shooterbob]

I. Myself am not experienced enough to try blending powder . I don’t know what thread you guys are referring to. I’m wondering how this fella was calculating burn rate or even how his blended power would react? Was the powder close in burn rate? I’m just curious. I would never try blending myself. New guy happy to be here Bob.

 

[Cousin Basil]

I've read somewhere where BR shooters blend LT30 and LT32 to make LT31. They say it works well - of course they would because they go to the trouble and risk wasting the powder are they going to say it was a bust?

 

[mtmuley]

I think I'll just do what I do. And not get a rifle bolt in my head. mtmuley

 

[rjthehunter]

I think I'll just do what I do. And not get a rifle bolt in my head. mtmtmuley

You know what's bad for your health?























Being on the receiving end of a rifle bolt that came blowing out the back of a rifle!

 

[kodiakisland]

Next time you’re at a public range, just remember that guy next to you might have been reading about DIY duplex loads and is trying them out for the first time.

 

[Hammsolo]

I heard from an ol boy that weatherby blends powder to achieve their velocity in factory loads. Could be complete bullshit though.

They might, but they also probably have chemical engineers working out the formulas. In theory, all powders are some blend of chemicals anyway.

 

[Hammsolo]

There is some data out there from people experimenting with layered charges in Savage smokeless muzzleloaders. I'd had great luck with single smokeless powders in mine so never played around with it.

One would think that if blending powders was better, the powder manufacturers would just go ahead and do it to be able to say they have the latest, greatest thing.

Layered? How could you mange maintaining the layers? I guess if the loads were compressed the powder wouldn’t shift when the case was tipped.

 

[Hammsolo]

This guy. You can tell he’s a jackass because of how he spikes the case. Trying to look cool…

 

[antelopedundee]

They might, but they also probably have chemical engineers working out the formulas. In theory, all powders are some blend of chemicals anyway.

I would posit that blending Reloder 19 and Reloder 17 is akin to blending skim milk and 2% milk, but I wouldn't say that 50% of each would get you Reloder 18. It wouldn't surprise me that the maximum possible spec to qualify Reloder 17 as a cannister powder is the same as or nearly the same as the minimum possible spec for Reloder 19. Now trying to blend Reloder 15 with IMR7828 is a fool's errand. FTR I wouldn't do either of the above.

 

[Laelkhunter]

As far as Weatherby blending powders, I used to have a Weatherby catalogue that listed their load data in it. I got it around 1985 or so. If I remember correctly, everything was loaded using Norma MRP powder. It listed the actual grain weight of the powder in each of the factory loads, and exclusive use of Federal 215 Primers in their large rifle cases. I lost that catalogue in Katrina along with everything else. I wish I could find another one.