OK to keep powder in reloader?

[salemsm]

Newbie Reloader who just did my 1st 200 reloader rounds in my new Dillon 550B. (A wonderful machine, by the way.)

My question: Is it ok to keep the remaining powder in the reloader tube or should I store it back in the powder container? I live in the humid climate of Northern Virginia and would like the advise of the reloading greybeards on this.

 

[Trooperdan]

Nope, return the powder to it's original container when you are done loading. Not only it is a bit of a safety violation, it is much more likely that you'll forget what type powder it is! Doesn't matter if right now you only have one can of powder, develop good habits now for later.

 

[Rule3]

It is not a recommended practice. I have done so many times however. We live in air conditioning 9 months of the year

Better to be safe than sorry. So no do not do it.

I just noticed that Hodgdon has put a warning on there page about this.

Some powders will eat the plastic hopper of the powder measure. My cheap Lee seems immune. But some powders may have other ingredients.

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

​

WARNING

By clicking the 'I Agree' button, I understand/accept and will agree to abide by the precautions and warnings outlined below.

Powder Storage in Reloader Hoppers
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.

The information displayed on this site, including ballistic data, was derived from tightly controlled laboratory conditions. This information and data may vary considerably depending on many factors, including the components used, component assembly, the type of firearm used, reloading techniques, safety precautions practiced, etc.

 

[2152hq]

Best to return the powder to it's factory container.

That said, I've used a MEC 9000G 12ga progressive loader for probably 15yrs thats always had some portion of it's hopper filled with (Clays)powder.
I never let it run dry (well OK,, except those couple of times I wasn't paying attention to it).
No damage to the plastic,,that comes from what type of plastic is used, not necessarily from what type of powder. A cheaper plastic used in the hopper = etched surfaces when powder is stored in them.

I did leave the hopper in my Dillon Square Deal (pre-'B') filled w/ RedDot for approx 20yrs with no problems. It had the cap taped shut and the machine was moved around from place to place, garages, basements, ect all that time.
Worked OK when I finally remembered it. No etching. A few of the priming (plastic) parts had gotten brittle from age and were replaced. But nothing damaged from the powder. Made up some dandy 38sp reloads too.

But it's not something I'd recommend doing.
Just shows that everything won't necessarily fall to pieces if you do store powder in them.

Safety is the bigger concern and the possibility of mixing 2 different powders not realizing what is already in the hopper and adding something else to it.

Becareful when emptying the hopper that you place the powder back into it's correct (and original factory) container.
Best rule to follow is the 'only one powder on the bench at a time' rule mentioned above.

 

[Bkreutz]

Depends on how many rounds you reload a day. I do 200-300 every day (replacing rounds I use) so my 650 never sits idle. I will probably empty the measure when I leave for a couple of weeks later this summer.

 

[fredj338]

In humid climates, if you are going back to reloading within the day, I am fine elaving it. Leaving ot formor ethan a day would give me pause. Here in sunny SoCal, I can leave powder in the hopper as long as I like within reason. SOme powders will do damage to the plastics in some measures though, so consider that as well.
A simple fix to avoid mixing two powders or using the wrong data for a powder in the hopper, put a removable label on the measure & write the powder in use on the label. Mess that up, you should turn in your reloading card.

 

[Gyrene6891]

Murphy's Law, understanding that Murphy was an optimist!

 

[budster]

It is not just limited to the Nitroglycerine but, also the Either(sp) used as a preservative will also melt the plastic.

 

[salemsm]

Great advise from one and all. I will practice safe reloading habits starting now and return all unused power back into the factory container.

 

[sweetagony]

it is much more likely that you'll forget what type powder it is! Doesn't matter if right now you only have one can of powder, develop good habits now for later.

I agree, I have half a tube of powder in my loader and I have forgotten what it is. I have to dump it, just to be sure I don't screw up my next loads. I did see someone with a tag on each pound of powder that was then moved to the powder measure when it was filled, GREAT idea !

 

[Old 44 Guy]

As many before me said "dump the powder back into original containers".

 

[Bruce51]

The last time I left powder in the hopper too long the powder was clumping together.

It softened the plastic and sticky plastic and powder do not mix.

I caught the short throws right away and cleaned everything,

Replaced my powder hopper as well.

I learned my lesson that time.

Always remove the powder to be safe.

BLM

 

[H Richard]

I have had some powders actually eat into the plastic of the powder tube and imbed itself into the plastic. After having to scrub out the interior of my RCBS powder dispenser I now empty it after every reloading session. However I also have a MEC 9000 12 gauge reloader and the powder measure on it hasn't been empty in the 8 years I have been using it. However, it doesn't sit too long in one place as I am reloading with it at least e/o week.

 

[jepp2]

I am much more disciplined now than I was 20 years ago. My rule now is only 1 powder container on the bench at a time. And the end of the day, the powder goes back into the container, period!

I used to leave powder in the hoppers. I wasn't great on labeling, but I always knew the powder I was using. But after seeing how much the hopper plastic discolored, and understanding the risk of mistaking a powder I changed. I replaced the hoppers on my 2 Dillon RL550 measures (the old ones that were epoxied in without holes drilled for the new hoppers) and on my Redding 3BR measure and deciding to live with the discolored hopper on my Pacific 366 shotshell press, I just make it a rule to not leave powder in the hopper.

 

[Bib]

I won't say it's a good idea...but I had powder in all my reloaders when I got about three feet of water in my basement from the rains of Hurricane Ivan. The water ALMOST made it to my benchtops. It was over a year before I got everything back to normal and started reloading again...all the powder was fine....and all the primers on the shelves worked fine too.....

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

What you decide is up to you, BUT your powder measure is set to some thing. I put a post-it (held with a back up rubber band) on the measure with the powder, and charge size. In the past I noticed that some volume settings are good for 2 or more different powder/cartridge combinations. An example is My w231 charge for 45 Colt is the same volume as my Hodgdon Clays charge for my 44-40 WCF (same shell plate too). I like to change as little as possible, when moving from one cartridge to another. So I schedule my reloading in this order; 45 Colt, 44-40, 44 Mag, 44 Spec, 44 Russian, and lastly 45 Schofield. That way on my 550, I don't have to change the shell plate. The 45 colt and 44-40 have dedicated tool heads and I move the powder measure over. The others get adjusted on the same tool head and powder measure. I have 3 powder measures, 1 stays on the 45 Colt/44-40 setting; 1 stays on my 45 ACP setting; and the other gets adjusted to anything else I load. I own the 50 caliber wide mouthed measure too, but never used it. And I have the original manual powder measure from they early 80's, it gets used off the Dillion, like any other powder drop. Summer is the shooting season, I do most pistol loading in the winter. Ivan

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It is recommended to store powder in the original container and with me there is no BUT. I always dump the remaining powder back into the original container and there is only 1 container on the table at a time. There should be no compromise when it comes to safety.