powder ?

[cracker57]

If you are not going to use your reloading press for a while what do you do with the powder in the powder drop? do you empty it and put the powder back in the original container or do you leave it in the powder drop? I have been leaving it in the powder drop, and then I weight the first couple of charges when I start pulling the handle again. I have never had an issue just wondering what others do and more important WHY.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks

 

[Arub]

I pretty much do as you do if I will be back to reloading in a few days to a week. For longer periods I will return the powder to its original container.
As I reload I pretty much weigh each charge and have never noticed a significant difference in charge weights.

 

[muddocktor]

I ALWAYS put the powder back in the bottle or jug it came out of. And I do this for several reasons:

1. It keeps the powder from having some possible deterioration from light exposure and exposure to the plastic and metal of the powder measure.

2. It keeps it from sticking to the plastic of the powder measure.

3. Most importantly, it keeps you from having any possible problems with miss-identification of the powder you are loading. Some powders look almost identical and I wouldn't want to be on the end of a cartridge loaded with Accurate #9 for example, loaded with a max load of H-110 powder specs in a 357 or 44 Mag. Those 2 powders for example, look close enough alike that if you didn't pour it out from the container they could possibly be mistaken and A #9 is enough quicker than H-110 that it could possibly blow up in your pistol.

 

[MyDads38]

I always put powder back into the original container when I finish a session. Some powders will damage the plastic hopper on powder measures.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

I also put powder back in original containers after the end of reloading session. This is a good habit and eliminates all possible problems that can occur.

 

[MichiganScott]

I ALWAYS put the powder back in the bottle or jug it came out of. And I do this for several reasons:

1. It keeps the powder from having some possible deterioration from light exposure and exposure to the plastic and metal of the powder measure.

2. It keeps it from sticking to the plastic of the powder measure.

3. Most importantly, it keeps you from having any possible problems with miss-identification of the powder you are loading. Some powders look almost identical and I wouldn't want to be on the end of a cartridge loaded with Accurate #9 for example, loaded with a max load of H-110 powder specs in a 357 or 44 Mag. Those 2 powders for example, look close enough alike that if you didn't pour it out from the container they could possibly be mistaken and A #9 is enough quicker than H-110 that it could possibly blow up in your pistol.

I always put powder back into the original container when I finish a session. Some powders will damage the plastic hopper on powder measures.

I also put powder back in original containers after the end of reloading session. This is a good habit and eliminates all possible problems that can occur.

All correct.

Let me add that smokeless powder is hygroscopic and single base more so than double base. It will absorb moisture from the air. There's a reason that cool and dry storage is recommended.

 

[AveragEd]

I concur with the above four posters. It takes only a minute to be safe and assure that your powder will not deteriorate. I don't get people who take shortcuts while handloading. We have enough people thinking we are "basement bombers" without giving them a reason to think of us that way.

Ed

 

[moxie]

A "session" for me may last for a week, or so. I'll leave it in the hopper for the session, and will make sure I have a label on the hopper as to what's in it.

Then I'll return it to its original container.

One of the main problems with leaving powder in the hopper too long is it etches the plastic, and over the course of many years will render it opaque. It happens. If it does, RCBS will send you a new hopper, for free.

 

[Pisgah]

If I am loading and take a break for an hour to get lunch, the powder stays in the hopper. But any longer than that, like overnight, I put the powder back in to the container. Too much risk of forgetting what powder is in there, plus some powders will react with plastic hoppers, ruining both powder and hopper, and it can happen overnight -- ask me how I know!

 

[Nevada Ed]

I left powder in my loader over the years but I always let the powder can out or used masking tape to label what powder was in the tube.
I noticed the tube turning "Yellow", so I never left the powder in the tube, over night again.

It does do a lot better in its original container with a moisture barrier lid but that just has to be your call, with the humidity in your area.

 

[gwpercle]

Always...ALLWAYS...pour the powder , from the hopper back into it's original container.
For three reasons :
!.) Safety...you will forget , one day, what powder is in that hopper.
2.) The hopper is not sealed tightly and will allow the powder to break down faster and react with the plastic .
3.) The powder will etch , cloud and yellow the plastic hopper , it doesn't take long. Soon you can't see how much powder is in the hopper.
Trust me on this ! Voice of experience is speaking .

Gary

 

[apollo99]

I will leave it in overnight if I split the session, but otherwise I take it out. Dillon says titegroup will discolor the clear plastic. Only takes a minute, why take a risk of light deterioration, or moisture effects.

 

[Bkreutz]

I leave powder in the hopper, unless I'm going on vacation. I agree with most of what's been said, but my situation is a bit different. I only load 9 Minor, and 9 Major. I have a toolhead setup for both. I use a different powder for each. Normally I'm loading 9 major so I leave that one full all the time. I go through a lot of powder, around a pound every week to 10 days. If I run low on 9 minor ammo (my wife shoots that) I'll empty the 9Major powder back into the jug, swap the toolheads, and then fill up the minor powder hopper. My wife doesn't go through ammo as fast as I do so I load up a few thousand, box them up, fill up the filing cabinet that I use for ammo storage, and then switch back to 9 major. I make ammo just about every day (except Tues and Sun when I have matches). Got major surgery coming up in a few weeks and I'll empty everything before that.

 

[Wise_A]

I always keep only the powder I'm working with on the bench surface. The ones I'm not using go way up high on the top, well out of arm's reach.

I only leave powder in if I'm breaking for lunch/dinner/whatever.

When I return, I always start back at the beginning, verifying my intended loading with the book, and writing that load on the box I'm loading into. Then I weigh the first ten charges.

If I'm planning on switching calibers/loads but keeping the same powder, I pour the powder back into the original container, and put the container back on the shelf.

I'd wager using the wrong powder is one of the most common ways to blow up a gun.