I was visiting a lgs today and the owner showed me a powder hopper on a hornady lock n load powder measurure that had melted because he had left powder in it for a long time. When he called hornady they asked him if he left powder in it for a period of time, but they gave him no explanation. Has anyone ever heard of this. Maybe its common knowledge, but i have never heard of this. What would cause it to melt? My gunpowder sits in plastic jugs for years and doesn't melt. It could be the type of plastic, but I don't know.
Melted powder hopper?
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FROGO207
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The answer is that certain plastics will react with solvents that are still out-gassing from the propellant that were there when it was manufactured. I had a Lyman 55 that got chewed up by leaving a full hopper of Unique in it. This has been discussed before and several propellants can cause this. As a side note the hopper of my Lee powder measure has never etched when I left any in it for a week or more in the past. I would just empty the hopper when done every day so you do not forget what was in there in the first place. I have 18 different cans on hand these days and it can be confusing if I forget.
I've left BE for about 2 weeks in a Hornady tube and it was noticeably discolored and slightly "softer" - almost spongy. Other powders like RL-15 or Ba-10 can sit in there a month with no issues. Of maybe a dozen I've tried, only BE has the effect.
The Lee hoppers are an obviously different compound - much more brittle with a harder surface.
/Bryan
The Lee hoppers are an obviously different compound - much more brittle with a harder surface.
/Bryan
How many myths begin with "A person told me..."?
People who use a Dillon 1050, and many who use a Dillon 650, keep the powder measure-still full of powder-on their tool head. I have done so for decades.
The worst that "normally" happens is the plastic darkens.
I have heard tales of powder with enough solvent (or NG weeping out?) that the kernels stuck to the plastic and left "dents." Never seen it myself.
If concerned, simply don't leave the powder in the measure for more than the single loading session. Of course, over a decade, the hopper will still haze/darken.
Then, there are the ones who degrease their new powder measure with brake or carburettor cleaner (not recommended cleaners) and don't discriminate between metal and plastic.
People who use a Dillon 1050, and many who use a Dillon 650, keep the powder measure-still full of powder-on their tool head. I have done so for decades.
The worst that "normally" happens is the plastic darkens.
I have heard tales of powder with enough solvent (or NG weeping out?) that the kernels stuck to the plastic and left "dents." Never seen it myself.
If concerned, simply don't leave the powder in the measure for more than the single loading session. Of course, over a decade, the hopper will still haze/darken.
Then, there are the ones who degrease their new powder measure with brake or carburettor cleaner (not recommended cleaners) and don't discriminate between metal and plastic.
1SOW
Member
231 and n320 and n340 in the LEE hopper has shown no affects for over a year of having powder in this newer hopper it most of the time. Mostly n320, a single-base powder.
zxcvbob
Member
I think it's the nitroglycerin that causes problems. Single-base powders don't do it, even if they smell like solvent. Bullseye and Power Pistol are probably the worst, 40% NG. Titegroup is pretty close.
Tom488
Member
Yep. I have an RCBS Uniflow hopper that was eaten up from Bullseye. Now, I empty my powder measure at the end of each reloading session. Takes all of 30 seconds, and another 10 seconds to refill it for the start of the next session.
I've always wondered why they couldn't make the hoppers from the same material that the jugs are made of.
buck460XVR
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I've seen Lil' Gun etch a powder hopper in a matter of hours. I'd hate to see what would happen if left in the hopper for decades. Some folks claim that the pain from kidney stones is just a myth too...........till they pass a couple.
As powder deteriorates it outgases NOx. One of the reaction products, with water in the air, is nitric acid gas. Because NOx is a series of molecules, I don’t know the by products of all of them. Could be some that really react with plastic.
Single based powders and double based powders all out gas NOx. However the nitro in double based powders reacts with the nitrocellulose and the shelf life of double based powders is about half that of single based. So maybe what you are seeing with double based is more NOx coming out.
Single based powders and double based powders all out gas NOx. However the nitro in double based powders reacts with the nitrocellulose and the shelf life of double based powders is about half that of single based. So maybe what you are seeing with double based is more NOx coming out.
sugarmaker
Member
I have a uniflow that got somewhat etched from some powder sometime in it's 35 years of service. Still works fine just not shiny green on the inside.
loose noose
Member
Tom488, I did the same thing left Bullseye, in my RCBS Uniflow hopper about 10 years ago, never did that again. I empty out my hoppers as soon as I'm done reloading.
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