US 869 Lot to Lot differences

[Buffalobob]

It is hard to remember what all I remember. If I knew everything I knew I would be a genuis.

Based upon this old thread

I would guess that the first row of numbers is the canister size and bottling date and the "43" is the lot number

[Fiftydriver]

Roy,

Sounds like you got a bad lot of powder, I would call Hodgdon and see if they would exchange it. one lb of bad powder is not a big deal, 8 lbs is a real big deal!!!

I have been using US869 alot in my 7mm AM and 338 AM. I load 102 gr in my light 7mm AM and 105 gr in my heavy under the 200 gr ULD RBBT. In my 338 AM my light load is 140 gr under the 300 gr SMK. I have loaded up to 150 grains however but that is pretty warm.

I am also using it in my 510 AM for early testing and so far 255 grains under the 750 gr bullet seems about right. That burns up powder in a hurry!!!

I have burned up three of the four 8 lb kegs I have bought so far and never experienced anything like you are seeing.

I would get ahold of Hodgdon and see what they say. If there is a bad lot of powder out there, it will help them as well.

Kirby Allen(50)

[royinidaho]

Kirby,

Stick you nose in one or all of those 8#'ers. Mine has a real heavy finger nail polish smell. The 1# can still has 155grs in it and it doesn't smell at all.

[jmden]

Roy,

Not to butt in but I would describe my 869 8# to have the smell you describe. Lot # 8021006 43.

[Fiftydriver]

Mine smells no differnet then any of my other powders on the shelf.

Kirby Allen(50)

[royinidaho]

jmden,

Seeing as we both have the same lot number and the same smell which is different than Kirby's which has no smell. Mine is distinctly way more pungent than any of the Alliant, Hodgdon, IMR and Win powders that I have.

How does yours shoot?

I think I'll talk to the Hodgon boys tomorrow.

[jmden]

I've been pretty happy with it. I'm consistenly sub MOA with the 200AB and 109g. Quite a few sub 1/2 MOA groups.