Military Surplus Powder by Lot#

[Slasher]

I picked up an 8lb jug of WC846 a year ago and have had great luck with it in my 308 bolt. I have the chance to pickup another jug this weekend for a good price and wanted to know if I got the same lot number as the last batch I purchased would it be safe to load with my existing load data I worked up with my original batch?

Thanks

 

[jcwit]

Are you loading near to the max?

 

[snuffy]

I have the chance to pickup another jug this weekend for a good price and wanted to know if I got the same lot number as the last batch I purchased would it be safe to load with my existing load data I worked up with my original batch?

Thanks

Chances of getting the same lot # at a later date is slim to none. If you do, buy a lottery ticket on the way home, you're sure to win!

Checking a new lot # is as simple as dropping back 10% from your present load, load five a 5 equal increments back up to your present load to check for pressure . There's no guarantee that the accuracy will stay the same.

 

[Slasher]

jcwit, I am not loading near max. I found a good load in the mid level of the load data.

snuffy, I actually saw the guy about a month ago at a show and he still had the same lot number from close to a year ago but I think he buy tons of stuff when he makes a purchase. He mentioned getting like 40,000 pounds of brass with his last delivery. I didn't get the 846 at the time because I need to get some other powder but looks like I will pick this up if he still has it.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[capreppy]

That is an excellent score then. I only wish our local gunshows sold powder / primers at all (restricted due to fire marshall codes). There are some gunshows in our metroplex, but once you factor in gas and the lottery ticket style luck you'll need to find a good deal, it isn't worth it for me.

 

[jcwit]

I'd say you're good to go with the load data you've already worked up. You say you load in the mid-range for accuracy, then there's no problem.

 

[Clark]

I bought some surplus bulk pull down 1960s IMR4895 that behaves like H322.

That means, use 9% ~ 10% less powder than the canister IMR4895 for the same pressure.

But if your first lot was slow and 10% off, and your second lot was fast and 10% off, then you might work up loads with the second lot that needed 20% less powder.

Watch out for loose primer pockets or stiff bolt lift, and back off a 6% safety margin from that threshold to determine your load to mass produce.

 

[Slamfire]

Half of all the IMR 4895 surplus powders I bought went bad in the can. The stuff is demilled precisely because either the master sample went bad or local tests showed the lot being examined was at the end of its shelf life.

My advice, shoot the stuff up as quick as you can.

Considering the nature of the demilling process, one lot of demilled powder is going to be different from the next.

My powder, some of it was fast, some of it required IMR 4064 level charges to get the velocity I wanted.

You have to test each new lot as military powders are not blended as are the powders we buy over the counter.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you can get the same lot number powder then all your current data should be the same. If it were me I would buy more than 1 8lb jug considering you have a load you really like with that powder lot number. It's extremely rare to find the same lot number all those years later, don't pass on the opportunity.

 

[medalguy]

I agree with ArchAngel. When I buy pulldown powder I try to buy a large quantity all at the same time and all of the same lot number. I've used quite a bit of this stuff and I started checking loads every time I opened a new jug but quit after about 10 jugs all from the same lot number with all hitting exactly the same velocity.

 

[Slasher]

Thanks for all of the replies. Unfortunately my guy didn't make it to the show this weekend but after all of these responses I will shoot him an email and make sure he keeps at least one of those jugs for me. He normally makes it through town at least once a month even if there is not a gun show.

 

[Maj Dad]

The stuff is demilled precisely because either the master sample went bad or local tests showed the lot being examined was at the end of its shelf life.

I remember in the Army having to pull certain lots of ammo & turn it in because something went bad somewhere/somehow. That's why I've always been leery of pull-down powder, though I have shot it in the past. Frequently new & pull-down supplies of the same powder were sold side-by-side & I always went for the new if available. I believe that DRMO required bad powder be destroyed versus "gotten rid of" so my paranoia is probably just that...

 

[brickeyee]

The stuff is demilled precisely because either the master sample went bad or local tests showed the lot being examined was at the end of its shelf life.

Or any other component of the lot was judged to be at end of life.

there are also factory surplus powders available.

They are often the remnants of a lot with not enough powder remaining for another full production run.

Setting up is a large cost, so once a setup is complete ad verified a manufacturer wants to run a complete lot without any changes.

If theer is powder left at the end it may not be enough for another full lot.