New powder lot waaay slower

[HuntHarder]

I just cracked open my new 8 lb h4350 to load up some 300's. Upon shooting them yesterday, my same load was 100 fps slower vs. my last jug of H4350. I think that last jug was bought 2 years ago. I've seen changes from lot to lot, but this is the most extreme. The load still grouped great, just slow. Anyone else noticed this on the newest Hodgdon?

 

[wapitibob]

Never seen it. I never use a new container, always mix lots just for that reason.

 

[HuntHarder]

I'm gonna load some other cartridges that use h4350 to confirm my suspicion. I dont know any other reason my load would be so much slower than it was 6 months ago

 

[Lawnboi]

Iv seen a decent variation in h4350 specifically.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I just cracked open my new 8 lb h4350 to load up some 300's. Upon shooting them yesterday, my same load was 100 fps slower vs. my last jug of H4350. I think that last jug was bought 2 years ago. I've seen changes from lot to lot, but this is the most extreme. The load still grouped great, just slow. Anyone else noticed this on the newest Hodgdon?

Did you find pressure?

 

[HuntHarder]

Slightly flat primers with slight ejector marks. This gun seems to leave ejector marks on mild loads as well tho, thinking it's because of the dual ejector. All I've done so far was load my normal load of 63.5 grains of H4350 under a 200 gr eld-x.
Spreads were good, accuracy was good, just slow.

 

[Castle Rock]

Powder loses solvents and moisture over time so weight for weight you end up with more combustibles per load

 

[HuntHarder]

Powder loses solvents and moisture over time so weight for weight you end up with more combustibles per load

Basically saying my 2 y.o. powder was essentially hotter than it was when I first opened it?

 

[Castle Rock]

Yes, that has been my experience

 

[HuntHarder]

Might explain it, the only reason it doesn't quite add up is, i have been loading for that gun for 2.5 years and the velocity has stayed constant throughout. My h4350 jug that ran out, was bought new @ end of 2022. Powder was really hard to get then and I remember paying a premium from powder valley for it, so i doubt it was New old stock.