Coydog--The 2003 powder is every bit as good as the 2002. I am shooting some of each lot they make. I still am shooting some of the Nov. 2000 powder that I have been shooting since--you guessed it--Nov. of 2000, and everybody and his brother has newer and faster powder than I do. I am not griping, understand, as I get sd readings of 2 to 4 day in and day out, and really soft fouling.
Look, you really oughta seriously consider going AWOL and making this one. Sidra and I are debuting our new Shilohs that came in 3 weeks ago. We had about half of our ammo loaded, planning on using the old guns, and here come these. You guessed it, the 40-65 ammo we had loaded for Sidra wouldn't even chamber in the new Shiloh. Had to start EVERYTHING for that one over from scratch. We're still not sure that we are shooting the most accurate load/best bullet in her rifle. My 45-70 was no problem, as it shoots the ammo I had loaded for my older Shiloh that the factory rebarreled several months ago.
About the AWOL thing again. You need to come, AWOL or not. After your wife makes you a proud papa, it will be AT LEAST 21 years until you get to go more than 50 miles away from home and stay overnight unchaperoned again. Think about it. This may be your last chance for a while. Shoot straight, rdnck.