I recently came across a decent selection of older powder from an avid reloader that passed away.

There are many kinds. In many original cans, kegs, tins etc.


I have read several places on how to tell if they are good from smell, to appearance and such.

My main question, is there any reason not to mix two of the same kind of powders? Say you have 3 identical tins of IMR3031 but all of them are partially full, can I safely just put them all in ONE can and call it good? I have a small can full of red dot and a keg half full, can I just dump in the small can?

I dont see any reason why not?

I have no intent on mixing any dislike powders, just like numbers of the same brand.

Unless the powders are from the same lot number, don't mix them. Yeah, you might think it's ok...but it's not.
Smell and look of old powder is a good way to tell if it's degraded, I have reloaded with powder as old as 1972, same with properly stored primers.
I would reload a small lot of an old powder and try it before loading a bunch though.

Nobody else has any input??

Never mix powder. Just don't. If you have a couple of grains at the end of a can after loading a bunch of rounds up, then throw it on your compost heap.

The different containers of the same powder may have different burn rates, even if they are the same lot. Various factors can contribute to this. Different lots, humidity, how it was stored, etc. can effect this.