Just how bad is it to leave the hopper of your powder thrower half filled with powder from your last reloading session? I just did it! On Sunday, I reloaded 150 rounds of 45ACP using Clays powder. On Tuesday, I noticed it and returned the unused powder to the 1# plastic bottle. I've heard many proclaim that to be a bad practice of which I'm guilty, but just how bad is it?
Oops: I left powder in the powder measure
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As long as it doesn't go bad or etch the hopper-no problem
It depends on the plastic the hopper is made out of. I always place a tag on the outside of the hopper with the powder type I'm loading, so there's no doubt what powder is in the hopper. Some hoppers are susceptible to etching, mainly from the ether in the powder, that's why it's usually not a good idea to leave powder sitting for too long in most hoppers. Dillon hoppers will definitely etch. MEC hoppers (shotshell) don't seem to have any proclivity to etch, and I generally leave powder on the hoppers for extended periods with no adverse effects in my shotshell reloaders. It's your call, just be sure everything is well marked.
kbm6893
Member
I always leave it in the hopper. I only use one powder (HP38) so no chance if mixing it up. I just like having it there in case I have some time to crank out ten or so. I single stage load.
Should I dump it back into the bottle?
Should I dump it back into the bottle?
At one time it was reported Bullseye had etched the sides of powder measures and lost efficiency if left in a plastic measure. I think it was due to high nitro content. Other powders have a high content as well, especially RL7 to name one. I always empty my measure if leaving for more than an hour.
oneounceload
Member
TWO days? SERIOUSLY? Do NOT overthink this as long - as entioned above - you didn't dump something else on top of it.
Personally, the powder drop is the last thing to get cleaned up - and since I always cover each piece of equipment when I am done for the day, it is a no brainer to dump the measure.
Whatever pattern/routine suits you, practice it every time so you don't do it again
Ditchdigger
Member
As stated above, be sure and label what kind of powder is in the hopper. As far as leaving powder in, from my experience it seems to depend on the powder. I've left Unique in the hopper for a couple weeks with no ill effects. Power Pistol, a whole different animal. After 3 days my hopper was barely clear enough to see the powder level. Discolored and etched it bad. Since used the powder, it didn't seem to cause a problem with the powder itself.
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Calliope
Member
As long as you're not reloading in the sauna you're fine.
daniel lawecki
Member
No problem as others stated. Just mark the hopper with masking tape as to what powder and weight of charge being thrown
Dieseltech56
Member
I returned some Reloader 17 to a pound of H4350 once. That about made me cry, I couldn't find H4350 for years after that.
I forgot and left the double base powder H335 in my RCBS ChargeMaster for three days and it ate into the green plastic.
The problem when not in a sealed container is if the powder absorbs any moisture/humidity the burn rate might change.
Bottom line, keep the powder in its sealed container and the powder will be uniform.
Eddie Southgate
Member
I keep the bottle for the powder I am loading on the bench until I'm through with the batch I'm working on . When I'm through I pour the powder back in the bottle and put it back in the appropriate place on my powder shelves . I don't leave it in the measure and never have but the one powder on the bench at a time . I don't like mistakes that cost me money or get me hurt .
Eddie
Eddie
That right there.
Like everyone else has said, the only risk is damaging the plastic on your measure, and even that is usually just discoloration.
One note - if you don't bother to clean the hopper, leave enough that you can tell there's still powder in there. I reloaded about a month ago and pretty much emptied the hopper, but left a few tablespoons of powder in there planning to come back to it in a day or two. I never did. So, a month later I have completely forgotten, pull the hopper out and spill powder. Then I remember I left a bit in there. At least I didn't dump something else on top of it, but lesson learned...
One note - if you don't bother to clean the hopper, leave enough that you can tell there's still powder in there. I reloaded about a month ago and pretty much emptied the hopper, but left a few tablespoons of powder in there planning to come back to it in a day or two. I never did. So, a month later I have completely forgotten, pull the hopper out and spill powder. Then I remember I left a bit in there. At least I didn't dump something else on top of it, but lesson learned...
I usually load in batches and once batch is done remaining components (if any) returned to their containers (powder/primers/bullets) and press is cleaned; even if I'm going to be reloading same load in a couple of days. I might "waste" few minutes refilling components but that's the routine I've developed for myself to reduce number of variables.
After loading since 1968.
my plastic lens is a light grey, but I can still see the powder inside.
Depends a lot on where you are and the humidity and high to low
in the summers and winters.
I dump my unit since it is located in the same room as the washer & Dryer !!
Just keep it separate and dry...........
my plastic lens is a light grey, but I can still see the powder inside.
Depends a lot on where you are and the humidity and high to low
in the summers and winters.
I dump my unit since it is located in the same room as the washer & Dryer !!
Just keep it separate and dry...........
Wee Hooker
Member
I've left loads of Clays and W231 in my Lee hoppers for 3-4 months at a time with no issues. The handgun loads they eventually went onto still went bang with reliability. No damage to the hoppers either.
That said, I wouldn't recommend such a practice. Especially if your application demands ultimate consistency.
FWIW, I always leave a slip of paper in my hopper denoting powder type so I don't forget what I was doing.
That said, I wouldn't recommend such a practice. Especially if your application demands ultimate consistency.
FWIW, I always leave a slip of paper in my hopper denoting powder type so I don't forget what I was doing.
My process exactly.
The only time I clean out the Hopper is when I change powder. I also put a piece of tape on the hopper identifying the powder. I don't worry about the plastic hopper as the powder now comes in Plastic bottles.
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