Mixing H110 and W296

[RB98SS]

When I've run low on one container, I have mixed 296 and H110. They are the same powder regardless of what other people say. I do keep track of the lot numbers though.

Mix them as long as you understand the possible differences in lot numbers.

 

[Balrog]

So do the people who are against mixing totally clean out their powder hopper everytime they open a new can of powder?

Eb1?

 

[Eb1]

Don't know, Balrog. I do not use a hopper. I have a nice canister that allows me to dip with dippers close to the charge, and then I use a trickler.

If the two powders are the same, I would like to hear it from Chris Hodgdon's mouth. Might call him up, and ask him just for the heck of it. I might even mention what your planning on doing, and see what his reply will be. Matter of fact. I will call them now.

 

[Eb1]

Balrog, per Hodgdon's from Mike on the line. Mix till your hearts content. He was worried about contamination, but said from lot to lot the factor of burn rate will be within' spec. Make sure to mix thoroughly. He had no concerns from a danger of changing the burn rate, nor did he say you would be out of spec if the lots were close to the same age. Although he was hesitant to even go that far saying the these powders are virtual indestructible by age. Only by contamination.

I guess this could have all been summed up without any unkind words or doubts by you making a 4 minute phone call to the powder company. Lesson learned for me. Sorry I stuck my nose in where it didn't belong, but glad I could get you a definite answer to your question.

Same powder different labels. Mix til your heart is content.

 

[Mal H]

Thank you, Eb1 - that was very helpful.

 

[Balrog]

Well actually, I just got an email back from Hodgdon. I had sent it over the weekend, when they were closed.

According to the rep who responded, no, they do not advise mixing powders. The thought is if one pound is contaminated, then you will contaminate the other.

So now I dont know what to think, Hodgdon seems to have differing opinions as well.

 

[sonier]

hahhah the only thing i could see going on, is if theres different additives and when you mix them they react differently? but if they shoot the same velocity with the same charges, and if there completely the same, then there should be little or no difference in loading 50 rounds of h-110 and the rest of 296, these are pistol powders and im assuming your shooting a pistol, Do you really think that the difference in lot numbers is going to make your accuracy even become obvious? this isnt 1000 yard benchrest lol

 

[Eb1]

@BeerSleeper. You are absolutely correct. That was an oversight on my part. I have stuck my nose out a couple times in this thread to have it cut off. I am not afraid to admit it. I just have to pick it back up, put it back on, and keep going. I called Hodgdon to get a definite answer for Barlog in effort to keep the thread on target.


Barlog, that is what the tech was saying on the phone to me, and I stated that in my post. The only worry was contamination. Not burn rates, etc. They said that if you mixed them good from different lots you would still be within' the tolerance of the burn rate for that rated powder.

I am trying to work with you, and help you out. I am not working against you. I hope you understand that. I know some came across as rash, and it probably was, but taking the "High Road" I wanted to help you, and learn something myself.

The tech I spoke with "Mike". You can call now, and probably get him, or ask if someone named Jeremy called about this question, and maybe you will get the same answer. I would not post anything that would put anyone in danger. I was quoting the Hodgdon CS guy pretty much word for word. Unless the powder is contaminated. I am guessing blended with another powder from a hopper that was not cleaned, maybe left open for a long time, or any other way you can contaminate something. You are okay to blend the powder per Hodgdon CS. Please call them now and ask them.
But as far as the response you got about not mixing them because it would ruin the other goes with along the lines of my statement of not knowing which lot or what caused contamination or failure. Except we know that a failure would not occur because they are the same powder.

From what has been mentioned, and from what I have been told from Hodgdon. If both are shooting well you could mix and be fine. Although if I had 2 lbs of 296 on hand. I would just load the lot from those 2#s, and be done with it if they are the same powder, and then load up another batch later with the H110. Then you don't have to worry about contamination, etc.

 

[BADUNAME37]

If that little voice in my mind has any question at all, I have learned to listen to that little small voice - the one that says "STOP, are you sure you want to do this?"

Call it my conscience, call it a fifth or sixth sense, call it my Maker giving me a hint. The MANY TIMES I did NOT listen to that little voice got me in trouble. Fortunately, it has been small things like "better double-check to make sure your car keys are in your pocket" - as I slam the car door 20 miles from home only to have to pay someone $35 back in 1978 to unlock my car with some kind of a metal slat. $35 in 1978 was quite a chunk of change to spend for not listening to that small voice in my mind.

As I've grown older, when in DOUBT, DON'T!

The very fact that the OP came on to ask should be enough to take the precaution of NOT mixing them, but instead use it as an opportunity to see if one is a little better than the other!

I just got an email this morning of a 44 Magnum S&W (with a lock on the left) with the entire top of the cylinder and top strap blown clean off the gun! Do you think someone TRIED to do that? Perhaps, perhaps the gun was no good anyway, so the tied it to a tree and pulled the trigger with a long string on loads packed with Bullseye.

But, then, maybe it was the Chinese ammo they claimed to have caused it.
When in doubt, DON'T!

 

[Walkalong]

The email was a condensed version on the safe side.

Absolutely we would not want to pour some contaminated powder in with new stuff. You have control over your powder and if you knew or thought it was contaminated, you would trash it and not even consider pouring in with the new stuff.

A real live tech talked it out with EB1 and told him it was fine, as long as there was no contamination in the older stuff.

That is what I would go with.

I only mix in small amounts of an old jug, and only if the bulk of the two lots does not vary a great deal. Mix it up very well.

Of course, that is with identically named powders. I have never mixed any HP-38 and W-231 or H-110 & W-296, but then I don't have both, and it seems to be only fairly recently where Hodgdon has made this public knowledge about those being the same. Folks have suspected for some time.

 

[Mal H]

Let's keep this thread on the topic at hand, and not about steak sauces. (A few posts have been deleted/edited.)

 

[Balrog]

Eb1, I appreciate your input and if I came across bad I apologize to you.

The bottom line is, Hodgdon is saying its ok to mix the two as long as neither is contaminated. I appreciate that, but it makes me wonder why they would even give that advice, since if I though either powder was contaminated, I would not use it at all for anything and just throw it away, let alone mixing it.

The tech I got the email from was also named Mike, so maybe it was the same person.

It is good to be able to hash this out online with other reloaders. Thanks.

 

[TonyT]

As a matter of policy I do not mix powders ikrrespective of their purported equality.

 

[Eb1]

I guess we need to know Mike's definition of contamination. When we know that then we will be golden on the subject.


My guess is that by contamination he is referring to being mixed with another powder other than the two in question.

If you had blended powders to create a duplex loading, and then mixed it with a single powder then you would have contaminated the pure powder. There are people who shoot duplex loads. My wife's boss for instance shoots old guns with 500 grain bullets are larger with duplex loadings. I wouldn't do it, but he has done it his entire life as far as I know, and he comes to work every day. So he must know what he is doing. Now I do not shoot duplex loads so I for one do not know how it is done. I do not know if you mix the powder, or if you load one on top of the other, but I can see Mike using this as contamination.

Without Mike explaining himself we will just have to guess.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm glad someone called and emailed Hodgdon AGAIN and got the same answers we have been getting for at least 2 years now, H110 and W296 are the same exact powders according to Hodgdon. (just like I said in Post #9 in this thread)

BTW, for your information:
W231 = HP-38
W296 = H110
W540 = HS-6
W571 = HS-7
W760 = H414

I think there are more including a Ramshot powder but those are the one's I've confirmed and I wouldn't post anything that's not confirmed. (by Hodgdon/Winchester/IMR)

 

[Balrog]

Yes its good to hear again that they are the same, though that really was not the question here.