leaving your powder in the measure

[koja48]

My powders live in their respective containers, visit a measure when required, then go back home after I have seated all bullets (if I happen to spill a case, I can easily recharge it without having to set-up again). Apart from that, I never leave powder in a measure for any extended length of time.

 

[Jim Watson]

If Dillon wants me to rebottle powder, they are going to have to make their measure easier to dump. Two screws and fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.

 

[peterotte]

I have never emptied my measures. (That does not make me right). I am more scared of pouring powder back into the 'wrong' container. There is air in the containers and each time powder is transferred, more air exposure is induced. Also, the more the powder is poured, the more static can be induced. I would rather keep the new powder sealed in it's can. I only load for two guns now, hornet and 303. Two separate measures and powder types. One must 'lock out' the out-of-use measure!

I have never detected any change in powder smell nor in performance.

However, I will review my practices. Safety is going to be the main aspect. I agree with Bushmaster. (I did once leave powder in the scale for several months and there was no change of weight and that was in a hot and humid climate - that got thrown away and only applies to the powder I was using at the time).

I do take FieroCDSP's and Clark's and U.S.SFC_RET's and other's comments seriously!

Peter

 

[Noxx]

I leave powder in Dillon measures; they are kind of tedious to empty

+1

When I started out on the 'chucker, I always emptied the Uniflow back into the container. It's a PITA with the Dillon however, and I'm usually loading every other day, so I throw a rubber boot over the factory cap and leave it be.

 

[taliv]

what jim said. dillon's a pain to empty, and i've got a month or so between loading sessions and it never seemed to bother it. but then, it's mostly blasting/plinking ammo. the stuff i weigh, i keep sealed. of course, that's easier, because i measure it with a harrell culver, and that measure uses the actual hodgdon bottles, so actually, i never really take the powder out of it's bottle.

 

[model 649]

I always clear all the powder from the bench and measure when not needed. I'd rather keep it as sealed and stabile as possible.
Josh

 

[fecmech]

I have a glass liner in the straight cylindrical hopper on my C-H Autochamp.

Jim-- where did you get the liner? I've got 2 auto champs could use them.

I leave the powder in my measures, the two previously mentioned auto champs and a Redding measure mounted on a Spar T turret. I have the measures labeled with the kind of powder inside.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sorry, fecmech, at the time I worked in R&D and had access to the agency glassblower's shop. I found a scrap of big glass tubing with OD a slip fit in the C-H measure's ID and had him cut it to length. I could not now duplicate it if broken.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Like many before have said, powder pistol will eat a uniflow, but if you call RCBS they will send you a new hopper.

Now if I could only figure out how to get the old etched one off????

 

[fecmech]

Thanks for the reply Jim, I suspected your glass liner might have been a one of a kind thing.

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

I have to agree, the Dillion is a PITA to dump, but I still do it after every session. Never know when I can get back to the bench. Might be a day or so, might be a month. Also, been reading a lot of comments about storing powder in a wooden box/crate. I use an OSHA approved flammable storage locker. It is a lockable metal box, but it is vented. Any thoughts on this storage method?

 

[Lennyjoe]

I empty mine back into the original canister.

Only exception is the HS-6 that is sitting in the hopper of my Mec Jr shottie shell press.

 

[sublimaze41]

I tend to leave powder in my 550 overnight as a max. I reload in our basement. Although I will do this, it is with condition. No new powders come out of the closet and the powder container with the powder I am using stays on the bench.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I remove the hopper and put the powder back in the original container , don't forget to dump all the powder out of the measureby stroking it a few strokes !

 

[ArkansasFatboy]

I left tightgroup in my uniflow and it ate into the plastic. So I say you should dump it back. I don't always but I should

 

[shadowalker]

I learned the hard way that Power Pistol will eat into the plastic on my RCBS Uni-Flow.

I found Longshot does the same thing.

I used to leave powder over night to settle but don't anymore.

 

[mgh]

I use Titegroup in my Dillon 550. I used to leave powder in the measure, but last month a batch of .38's I loaded smoked almost as much as black powder. I think the powder had absorbed a little moisture. I discarded the powder that was still in the press, loaded a batch with fresh powder, no more smoking.

At first it was a pain to take the measure off the Dillon, but after a few times it was no problem. Powder stays fresh and I get that virtuous feeling of following the safety rules, even though it's a little inconvenient.

 

[TEDDY]

powder

I leave powder in the measure but put label on measure and I use same powder all the time,I have several dedicated measures. same charge same powder.and on dedicated machine. -----------
but most people should return powder to the right container.:banghead:

 

[theCZ]

I label the powder if left in the measure, otherwise I put it back in. I have left powder in the measure for up to a month with no obvious effects. Recently I've been simultaneously loading for three rifles of different calibers, and I put powder back EVERY time now. I still leave powder in for my shotgun presses and my Dillon 9mm progressive.

 

[jeepmor]

Take from this.

Don't leave double base powders in plastic hoppers. I found bullseye and power pistol are problematic.

Moisture is an issue to deal with.

I keep all powder stashed away except the one I'm using. In that case, the bottle sits on the shelf next to the measure until I put it away, directly in front of the press. I left the powder in with single base powders and did not have a problem with the plastic, the double bases needed to be scraped out and the plastic is definitely fogged slightly now. But, come to think of it, some Varget loads did seem pretty smoky, guess that's moisture from leaving it in overnight or longer, probably a week.

I may experiment with those dessicant packs by throwing one on top of my powder if I plan to leave the powder in overnight. Beyond that, I'll dump it back in the original bottle.