Well.. Since posting this, I've taken it all apart, cleaned everything. Put it back together. Saw some improvement.

Had a thought... got rid of the Varget I had been using, and opened a fresh 8 lb jug. Huh! Significant improvement.

I believe now that I may have managed to contaminate the other powder.

Am going to also replace the plastic drop tube and see if that helps. It looks a little beat up after 30+ years of use.

Guy