Safety Seal on Powder Not There

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Glen

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I recently bought two cans of IMR 4064 at Sportsman's Warehouse in Medford, Oregon. I felt real lucky because that is one of my favorite powders. It was weird because the shelves were pretty empty but there sat two cans of great powder. I went to reload the other day and on opening the cans, I saw that the safety seal was missing on each one. Usually there's the lid with its paper stuck tight to it, and then there's this other seal that may not have writing on it or it may have writing on it that says, "Sealed for your protection."...........You know, I really want that powder but I'm a little nervous about it now and wondering if I should call the store and try to get my money back. I still have the receipt................................So my question is: what do you guys think? Am I overreacting? Do you sometimes find the safety seal missing and it's no big deal? What would you do?
 
Well . . it could be an issue on the manufacturing side and a phone call should answer that question.

Don't let Sportsman's off the hook with their policy BS. If line one didn't happen Sportsman's employees are dicking with the product or their return policy only applies to you and isn't enforced on others.

I like SW but they need to take care of you.
 
No. You should never under any circumstances use un sealed powder. Never. People lick ice cream, put needles in kids candy, poke holes in condoms, just think if they mixed powder or swapped out one for another. Ever pick up a payphone without looking at the ear piece and get chewing gum on your ear (probably not if your under 40 but I assure you it happened and if you had that sexy 80s hair it was very annoying ). People do A-hole stuff. Of Course powder came in a metal jug back then.....

I've gone through hundreds of pounds of powder. I've had many that weren't fully sealed. Many will let out air if squeezed and the seal is just smashed in place by the lid. Some the white seal just fell off. I used them. Probably shouldn't have.

Probably shouldn't use them if they aren't fully sealed for safety sake. I'd far rather them be sealed. That said, I wouldn't have got to load 1/2 what I have if I worried a lot about it. Alliant powder in the tall skinny plastic jugs in my experience are more likely to be unsealed than sealed. Squeeze them and they let out air. I use a lot of unique and have bought a case at a time. Opened the box myself and still had some not sealed. Not like someone couldn't glue the seal back down after the tampering if they really wanted to be an A- hole.

I don't know why they don't seal them like motor oil with aluminum or like seafoam or similar with the plastic pull tab.

I do absolutely refuse to buy ice cream without a good external seal though BTW.
 
Its funny this is brought up. I got 2lbs of Varget last week and the seal was stuck to the inside of the lid. The same store then told my buddy he could return/exchange powder he purchased as long as the seal was still in tact. After that I will be making sure the seals are in tact or I dont buy it.
 
I would use it. As long as it smells, looks feels, tastes, burns like 4064.
4064 is a stick powder, if the can is filled with something flaky then definitely be suspicious.

Let's say some evil reloader is being an ass and wanted to switch say AA7 for 748 it would be kind of hard to tell. Put them side by side and you can see the difference.

People have been working up loads using bulk mystery powder since at least the end of ww2. So it can be done.

I bought some old winchester super target a few years ago. Nothing looks like wst except for maybe something like M9 flank propellant. Its right there with the fastest burning powders made like bullseye and reddot so it's not like some one is going to swap it for something faster burning and blow up my gun.
 
So my question is: what do you guys think? Am I overreacting? Do you sometimes find the safety seal missing and it's no big deal? What would you do?
Personally, I'd keep it. But if it had been a bottle of Vihtavuori (which have tamper resistant caps) I would not nave accepted it. Sorry if that's confusing.
 
Could just be an employee who reloads and skimmed a few ounces from each can.
I'd weigh each one to make sure I'm getting a full pound.
 
Well, not exactly the same, but once, my good natured British expat girlfriend bought me one of those cardboard "milk containers" of Walmart hazelnut coffee creamer. When I went to use it, the same day she bought it, I noticed the pull-tab plug thing on its spout was missing. Rut-roh. Walmart replaced it. But... and here's my point, I _always_ check for that damned seal while I'm still in the store, usually when I take the carton off the refrigerated shelf.

Another time, I got some HD 20-50 full synth oil, no seal. I didn't worry, as HD oil has a distinctive smell, but... asking the parts manager, on another visit, he said that shouldn't happen, and most likely one of the mechanics grabbed a jug, opened it, and found out the customer wanted dino oil, so just brought it back to the front. He should have kept it in back for the next customer. So... yah, stuff happens, just take precautions, use yer noggin. I'd not use that powder if you have concerns.
 
Might be new packaging. I received 10 1# jugs about 2 months ago from powder valley that were in the original case. All bottles were missing the extra seal that is usual stuck to the mouth of the bottle.

I would smell it and compare that to another bottle you have. That will let you know if the powder has stay sealed.
 
I was in a big box sporting goods store one day and saw two jerks who worked there opening powder and poring some in their hands. They were discussing the grain size and shape then putting it back in the bottle. Before buying powder, I now check seals in stores that have loose cannons working there.
Lafitte
 
I thank everybody for responding. I don't know for sure how I'll play this, but your responses make me feel better about the whole thing. I know that from now on, I am going to check for the safety seal before I buy. As they used to say: "Caveat emptor."
 
I recently bought two cans of IMR 4064 at Sportsman's Warehouse in Medford, Oregon. I felt real lucky because that is one of my favorite powders. It was weird because the shelves were pretty empty but there sat two cans of great powder. I went to reload the other day and on opening the cans, I saw that the safety seal was missing on each one. Usually there's the lid with its paper stuck tight to it, and then there's this other seal that may not have writing on it or it may have writing on it that says, "Sealed for your protection."...........You know, I really want that powder but I'm a little nervous about it now and wondering if I should call the store and try to get my money back. I still have the receipt................................So my question is: what do you guys think? Am I overreacting? Do you sometimes find the safety seal missing and it's no big deal? What would you do?

I’m a few days late to this party but I found this thread doing an internet search for the exact same thing.
I’ve been handloading for 6 years and this is the first unsealed can of powder I’ve ever come across.

I live in Central New York State. I bought a 1lb. can of IMR 4064 here locally yesterday and found it was also missing the seal. Since we’re talking about the same powder on opposite sides of the country, it is a safe bet that the missing seal is simply an oversight from the factory and not something nefarious like theft or vandalism.

Hopefully this will calm any fears that the powder has been tampered with.

FWIW, I bought it to develop a load for my daughter’s .308 Win.
While I only just started, so far, the results are looking promising.
 
Not unheard of for that 'last solitary jug' to have a broken seal.
If you're familiar with the product and need it, start with a sniff test. Any clumps/foreign matter? Inspect it carefully, and proceed as you see fit.
This method works (for me) both before or after the sale.
 
Since there are 3 people in this thread who have recently experienced the same missing seal phenomenon with Hodgdon powder, I’m going to say it’s probably a change in their packaging methods.

A call to Hodgdon to verify this wouldn’t hurt
 
I may be over cautious, but I wouldn't use a Q-Tip from a purchased package that was opened prior to purchase.

There are enough loonies running around in this country nowadays, I am in the better safe than sorry group. Other than the obvious problems that may arise with opened powder, how about something that is much less powerful and you screw up your barrel.
 
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