BennyS
Member
How long would you leave powder in your powder measure or chargemaster?
Hopefully last dumb question
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Over night at the most and the plastic reservoir still looks new.
In my 1500, until I'm finished with a reloading project that I'm working on daily. Sometimes weeks. The same with my Hornady LNL AP press measure. Each day that I'm working, I QC the measures for accuracy. Once the projects are done, I empty them.
AveragEd
Member
I try to never leave powder in anything but its own container any longer than overnight. I have had several reservoirs damaged by powder left in them for extended periods of time. Some, like those of my Dillon powder measures, seem unaffected by it but I prefer not to take the chance.
I once read somewhere that the composition of powder that etches plastic is somehow changed in the process. I'm not sure how accurate that statement is but why take a chance for all the longer it takes to empty and refill a reservoir?
Ed
I once read somewhere that the composition of powder that etches plastic is somehow changed in the process. I'm not sure how accurate that statement is but why take a chance for all the longer it takes to empty and refill a reservoir?
Ed
2 reasons to empty back to original container once done for day
powder can etch/soften the hopper on your measure - heard it is mostly due to the nitroglycerin so some powders would be worse than others
the other reason & it is the one I think is more important is you can forget what is in there & then use the wrong data or put it back into the wrong container when swapping powder - I personally only have one can of powder out at a time & once done measuring I empty the hopper back into the can and put that can away
powder can etch/soften the hopper on your measure - heard it is mostly due to the nitroglycerin so some powders would be worse than others
the other reason & it is the one I think is more important is you can forget what is in there & then use the wrong data or put it back into the wrong container when swapping powder - I personally only have one can of powder out at a time & once done measuring I empty the hopper back into the can and put that can away
When done loading for the day put the powder back in the canister.
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
"Powder left in the reloader's powder measure hoppers for extended periods, overnight or several days, should be avoided. Powder needs to be stored in original containers ONLY, when not in use. Numerous modern smokeless powders are double base in construction, containing both Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine. Many powder measures currently available use an inexpensive plastic containing polystyrene, which Nitroglycerine adversely effects when contact is made for extended periods of time, resulting in etching or misshaping the plastic. Normal usage during the reloading process does not provide adequate time for this to occur, so simply draining hoppers into the original containers when the reloading is completed for the day, prevents ruining the hoppers. "
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
"Powder left in the reloader's powder measure hoppers for extended periods, overnight or several days, should be avoided. Powder needs to be stored in original containers ONLY, when not in use. Numerous modern smokeless powders are double base in construction, containing both Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine. Many powder measures currently available use an inexpensive plastic containing polystyrene, which Nitroglycerine adversely effects when contact is made for extended periods of time, resulting in etching or misshaping the plastic. Normal usage during the reloading process does not provide adequate time for this to occur, so simply draining hoppers into the original containers when the reloading is completed for the day, prevents ruining the hoppers. "
Not a dumb question.
You really should not do it though. Empty it when done.
Some powders can etch the plastic some not so much. If you forget for a day or so, no big deal, just try not to do it.
You really should not do it though. Empty it when done.
Some powders can etch the plastic some not so much. If you forget for a day or so, no big deal, just try not to do it.
Good question and great answers.
Ed
Ed
Before I had a progressive Shotgun loader, several days, until I loaded enough trap or hunting loads.
Never with rifle or pistol loads..................too many powders to mess up with.
Plus I wanted this powder air tight and moisture proof!!
Never with rifle or pistol loads..................too many powders to mess up with.
Plus I wanted this powder air tight and moisture proof!!
Ever read Skeeter Skelton's fine tale on this subject, titled "Skeeter's Cow Killer Loads?" It illustrates perfectly why storing powder in the hopper is a bad idea.
Bkreutz
US Veteran
I load a couple of hundred rounds a day, every day so I never empty the hopper but I figure the powder never stays in one place for more than a day. The only time I empty the hopper is when I have to change powder (which I just had to do because I can't find W231 and switched to AutoComp).
gregintenn
Member
I clean out the powder measure, and return the powder to the corresponding can at once, as soon as I'm finished loading. I also only have one powder container at a time on my bench. The rest are stored in a cabinet.
I don't have the greatest memory, and do not wish to get powders mixed up.
I don't have the greatest memory, and do not wish to get powders mixed up.
jepp2
Member
10 - 15 years ago I used to leave powder in my powder measures all the time. Now I have a Pacific 366 with a yellow tube and I have replaced both the Dillon RL550 powder measure cylinders. They were the old ones that were epoxied in. So I got to break out the old one, position and drill for the screw holes for the new ones. AND, there was the powder measure that I wasn't quite sure the powder in it.
Now my rule is only one powder on the bench at a time. Powder container on the floor beside the bench. And the end of my loading session or the end of the day (whichever comes first) I empty the powder back into the container. No exceptions.
Pisgah
Member
You may leave powder overnight in a measure, and 999 times out of 1000 times there will be no problem. But that 1000th time can end up with something as minor as a plastic reservoir being ruined right up to something major, like a blown-up gun and possible injuries. And remember, that 1-in-1000 occurrence may not happen for years -- or it might happen tomorrow.
Leaving powder in a measure is a bad idea.
Leaving powder in a measure is a bad idea.
1coyote
Member
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Now, I always remove the powder after I am done for the day.
I am on the third reservoir for my Lyman #55 measure.
After the first tube was ruined, I stopped leaving powder in it for extended periods of time. The second lasted much longer, but still curled in at the bottom eventually. Lyman charged $10 + shipping for a replacement tube. I went ahead and ordered 2 this last time around. If they are going to fail either way, might as well save a few $ on shipping charges.
**I also subscribe to the 'only one powder out at a time' philosophy.
I am on the third reservoir for my Lyman #55 measure.
After the first tube was ruined, I stopped leaving powder in it for extended periods of time. The second lasted much longer, but still curled in at the bottom eventually. Lyman charged $10 + shipping for a replacement tube. I went ahead and ordered 2 this last time around. If they are going to fail either way, might as well save a few $ on shipping charges.
**I also subscribe to the 'only one powder out at a time' philosophy.
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If the powder measure...
If the powder measure is sealed the powder won't 'go bad' except under adverse conditions. The main problem is that powder can attack the plastic and reduce its transparency.
I usually put powder back unless I know I'm coming right back to finish, at most overnight.
If the powder measure is sealed the powder won't 'go bad' except under adverse conditions. The main problem is that powder can attack the plastic and reduce its transparency.
I usually put powder back unless I know I'm coming right back to finish, at most overnight.
OP
BennyS
Member
Thanks guys, mainly I was interested in an overnight situation. I have a few hundred 45 cases to load and I like to do some a few hour before bed and continue the next day, same powder same load.
No problem, even a day or so. I do the same thing. Some powders will react much faster with different powder measures plastic.
More important is always leave only one jar of powder out and the one that is actually in the hopper. (or label the hopper with a post it note) If you then forget for a few days at least you know what exactly is in the powder measure.
AveragEd
Member
My memory was the second thing to go and I forget what the first was so I use a digital label maker and have each of my Dillon Quick Change tool heads labeled with the caliber it is for on the tool head and the powder charge for that caliber on the powder measure reservoir. Since I only load target ammo and have only one recipe for each of the four calibers I load, that system works for me.
Ed
Ed
Granddad
Member
I always pour unused powder back into the original container. I guess if I reloaded in a controlled environment and never or seldom changed powders, I might leave powder in the measure longer--but neither conditions apply.
If you do leave it and you do use different powders, always mark the measure at the end of your reloading session indicating the powder that it contains. Be safe, be smart.
If you do leave it and you do use different powders, always mark the measure at the end of your reloading session indicating the powder that it contains. Be safe, be smart.
RobertJ.
Member
I hadn't read that story in years! He's right up next to Elmer and Col. Askins for good reading.
I only have one powder out at a time, the others well put away, and I put it back in the container when I'm done
