Damnit, I was loading some bullets for my 35 Whelen with Re 15 last night to work a load up with. Right before I went to bed, I loaded some .223 with Varget to take my nephew youth hunting this weekend. Well, when I was getting dressed this morning half ass awake, I noticed I left some powder in my RCBS trickler, so not thinking correctly I grabbed the Re15 and dumped about 85 grains of Varget into it. Ther was about 3/4 of a pound of Re 15 in the bottle. Should I dump all the powder or just go with it?? I have another full bottle of Re15 of the same lot and thought about mixing it all together to try and dilute it a little. Re15 and Varget have just about the same burn rate and can be used in the same calibers, just hate wating powder cause these were the only two Re 15 bottles of the same lot in the store around here.
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Powder Mixing
- Thread starter jsthntn247
- Start date
Re: Powder Mixing
Dude, I cannot honestly say what I would do in your situation. I have almost done the same thing once or twice, and I'm sure someday I won't check myself in time and will have the same situation. I will be checking back to this post to see what others recommend.
Dude, I cannot honestly say what I would do in your situation. I have almost done the same thing once or twice, and I'm sure someday I won't check myself in time and will have the same situation. I will be checking back to this post to see what others recommend.
Re: Powder Mixing
Without an advanced degree in chemistry and not knowing how that powder mixture might react, I would dump the powder.
The risk of losing an eye or other more serious injury is just not worth the $25-$30 price of a pound of powder-in my opinion.
John_M
Without an advanced degree in chemistry and not knowing how that powder mixture might react, I would dump the powder.
The risk of losing an eye or other more serious injury is just not worth the $25-$30 price of a pound of powder-in my opinion.
John_M
Re: Powder Mixing
Blending powders is NEVER a good idea unless you are on real good terms with a highly qualified doctor, gunsmith and you enjoy pain! Scrap the loads and start over... not woth taking the risk.
Never have more than 1 can of powder on the bench.
Blending powders is NEVER a good idea unless you are on real good terms with a highly qualified doctor, gunsmith and you enjoy pain! Scrap the loads and start over... not woth taking the risk.
Never have more than 1 can of powder on the bench.
Re: Powder Mixing
While you sit here and look at the screen, close both eyes...That could be how you see for the rest of your life! All for the price of a pound of powder! Not worth the chance!
While you sit here and look at the screen, close both eyes...That could be how you see for the rest of your life! All for the price of a pound of powder! Not worth the chance!
Re: Powder Mixing
85 Grains out of 5000 or so isn't much. The varget is just a little faster so back
your r15 loads off to varget specs for that bullet and give it a try. (providing it
falls within the load manuals reduction for r15 minimums. Load a couple of rounds
and proof test it. We always mount our black powder builds in a wooden vise
and pull the trigger with a string. I don't think you situation warrants that kind of
caution but it's a thought. You can also spoon out the top of the can and get most
of it out if you haven't shaken it up.
And if you decide to toss it, toss it on your lawn, it's good fertilizer, albeit expensive.
85 Grains out of 5000 or so isn't much. The varget is just a little faster so back
your r15 loads off to varget specs for that bullet and give it a try. (providing it
falls within the load manuals reduction for r15 minimums. Load a couple of rounds
and proof test it. We always mount our black powder builds in a wooden vise
and pull the trigger with a string. I don't think you situation warrants that kind of
caution but it's a thought. You can also spoon out the top of the can and get most
of it out if you haven't shaken it up.
And if you decide to toss it, toss it on your lawn, it's good fertilizer, albeit expensive.
Re: Powder Mixing
Well, I just had time to run the numbers. There are 7000 grains in a pound, just say I had 5000 left to be safe. If I add that to the other 7000 grains in the new bottle, that's 12,000 grains of powder. The 85 grains that I dumped in there equate to 0.7% of the powder total. They have almost identical burn rates and have the same max charge in my 35 whelen. I'm going to mix them up for about 15 minutes and shoot it. I'll post results from the hospital, LOL. Here's how the whelen shot today, if it shoots the new mix worse, I'll post results so maybe it will help someone else out.
Well, I just had time to run the numbers. There are 7000 grains in a pound, just say I had 5000 left to be safe. If I add that to the other 7000 grains in the new bottle, that's 12,000 grains of powder. The 85 grains that I dumped in there equate to 0.7% of the powder total. They have almost identical burn rates and have the same max charge in my 35 whelen. I'm going to mix them up for about 15 minutes and shoot it. I'll post results from the hospital, LOL. Here's how the whelen shot today, if it shoots the new mix worse, I'll post results so maybe it will help someone else out.
Re: Powder Mixing
The burn rate for Varget is slightly higher than Re-15 but not by much. If it was me...and this is IF it was me...I would mix the two of Re-15 and call it a day...your only talking 85 grains. You will have about 12,250 grains of Re-15 mixed with 85grains of Varget.
If you load a lot then buy and 8# can of Re-15 and mix it with that.
The burn rate for Varget is slightly higher than Re-15 but not by much. If it was me...and this is IF it was me...I would mix the two of Re-15 and call it a day...your only talking 85 grains. You will have about 12,250 grains of Re-15 mixed with 85grains of Varget.
If you load a lot then buy and 8# can of Re-15 and mix it with that.
Re: Powder Mixing
If you didn't mix it up yet, you could probably take the top layer of RE15 off and scrap it. Just cut the top of the RE15 can off with a pocket knife at about where the powder level is (being careful not to shake or mix it), then scoop off the Varget and put the rest of the RE15 in the other new bottle.
If you didn't mix it up yet, you could probably take the top layer of RE15 off and scrap it. Just cut the top of the RE15 can off with a pocket knife at about where the powder level is (being careful not to shake or mix it), then scoop off the Varget and put the rest of the RE15 in the other new bottle.
Re: Powder Mixing
This has come up here before and every time people say to go ahead and use the powder.
Remember one thing before taking their advice; it will be of no consequence to them (not their gun, eye, head, fingers, etc)
Why take a chance? Fertilize the lawn with it and never look back.
This has come up here before and every time people say to go ahead and use the powder.
Remember one thing before taking their advice; it will be of no consequence to them (not their gun, eye, head, fingers, etc)
Why take a chance? Fertilize the lawn with it and never look back.
Re: Powder Mixing
I can only say what "I" would do.
Knowing that the burn rates are very similar and I don't run the ragged edge with most of my loads, I would just label it and then use it for loading "blasting" ammo.
If it were two different powders my answer might be different, but Varget and RE15 I don't see a problem as long as you are cautious.
I can only say what "I" would do.
Knowing that the burn rates are very similar and I don't run the ragged edge with most of my loads, I would just label it and then use it for loading "blasting" ammo.
If it were two different powders my answer might be different, but Varget and RE15 I don't see a problem as long as you are cautious.
Re: Powder Mixing
I wouldn't shoot the mix but that's because I slept with Murphy's wife and he's had it out for me ever since.
Thought 1: It's 30 bucks! Dump it and let that sphincter warn you to be more careful next time.
Thought 2: If you were to shoot the concoction why not dilute it by as much as you can afford? Go get 3-4-5 or 6 jugs.
F' the Lot numbers...lol...kinda blew that out of the water by mixing powders up
I wouldn't shoot the mix but that's because I slept with Murphy's wife and he's had it out for me ever since.
Thought 1: It's 30 bucks! Dump it and let that sphincter warn you to be more careful next time.
Thought 2: If you were to shoot the concoction why not dilute it by as much as you can afford? Go get 3-4-5 or 6 jugs.
F' the Lot numbers...lol...kinda blew that out of the water by mixing powders up
Re: Powder Mixing
You guys are very cautious and that is always a good thing, but the effects of mixing 85 grains of Varget with 3/4 pound of RE-15 would be insignificant.
It's a good idea to mix the two bottles of RE-15 anyway to give a consistent lot of powder.
But do what ever makes <span style="font-style: italic">you</span> feel comfortable in this situation...if you're going to worry about it just throw it out.
TC
You guys are very cautious and that is always a good thing, but the effects of mixing 85 grains of Varget with 3/4 pound of RE-15 would be insignificant.
It's a good idea to mix the two bottles of RE-15 anyway to give a consistent lot of powder.
But do what ever makes <span style="font-style: italic">you</span> feel comfortable in this situation...if you're going to worry about it just throw it out.
TC
Re: Powder Mixing
You appear to have a lot of horizontal stringing there; must be the mixed powder. I don't think the deer will notice the difference. Good hunting...
You appear to have a lot of horizontal stringing there; must be the mixed powder. I don't think the deer will notice the difference. Good hunting...
