Opps, messed up

[Catpop]

Since I have reached the ripe old age where long term memory has won the race over short term memory, I have to write everything down.
One thing I now do, is write the powder name on a slip of white paper and place it on top of the powder in the hopper. Then I place the powder can behind the hopper on the bench, kind of a double safety.
I also place an old towel over the measure and press (have 3 set up on bench) to keep it dust free. I often get called away in the middle of a reloading session.
All well and good, except in a fit of cleanliness, I put the powder can away. Yep, you guessed it, when I removed the towel, this one time I forgot to put the slip of paper in the hopper.
So now I have mystery powder!!!
So it. is true, "Even the best made plans of mice and men often go astray!"
Laugh at me and learn! Be careful reloading my friends!

 

[tcoz]

Well......if it was the last powder I was using, I'd look for a tipoff as to which rounds I was loading, then if I had been recently been using only one powder to load those rounds, I'd verify against my notes and pour some out of the hopper alongside some from the bottle and look at both under a magnifying glass. If the possible powders it could be are different types such as flake vs ball, you should be able to tell. If there's any question in your mind though, better to be safe rather than sorry and dump it. Of course, it might not be worth it if there isn't much in the hopper or if you have a big supply. Good luck.

 

[Walkalong]

The powder rule I follow.

Never have more than one jug at a time on the bench, so the powder in the hopper will always match the jug on the bench. I also do not leave powder in the hopper more than overnight, and rarely do that.

If in doubt, toss it out.

 

[steve4102]

I would drop a charge and weigh it, I would check my notes and find a load that matches, I would look at my press and see what dies were in it. Then I would visually verify it.

If this didn't satisfy me and indicate without any doubt what powder was in the hopper, I would toss it.

 

[FROGO207]

Any mystery propellant goes into the "lawn" jug for later this spring. Not worth fooling around with it and making a mistake.

 

[cfullgraf]

The powder rule I follow.

Never have more than one jug at a time on the bench, so the powder in the hopper will always match the jug on the bench. I also do not leave powder in the hopper more than overnight, and rarely do that.

If in doubt, toss it out.

I also do what Walkalong does but to add, my powder storage is away from the reloading bench so that I have to get up to get a jug of powder.

 

[stavman11]

even though I run 3 presses for 3 diff Calibers and its usualy the same powder for each caliber... I always mark the Hopper with whats In it and Most important to me what Gr and Lee Disk im at..

I use a piece of Scotch tape on the Hopper.. and with a Sharpie write the info on It... that way i awlays Know whats in my Powder Hopper..

All my powder is on its appropriate shelf.. and easy ta grab if more Powder is needed to be added to Hopper.

has always worked well for me

 

[Catpop]

Thanks guys, I hope I furnished a good laugh on this Eastern NC snowbound day. I will do a little detective work, might even be fun since i've only used a few powders in the Lyman 55 of late. BUT don't worry, if not 100% conclusive, fertilizer it will be.
Safe Reloading to all, Catpop

 

[witchhunter]

Good call Cat.

 

[Centaur 1]

The powder rule I follow.

Never have more than one jug at a time on the bench, so the powder in the hopper will always match the jug on the bench. I also do not leave powder in the hopper more than overnight, and rarely do that.

If in doubt, toss it out.

Same here, all my powder is in a cabinet across the room from my loading bench. If there's powder in the hopper, the can it came from is on my bench. Never take more than one can of powder at a time.

I would drop a charge and weigh it, I would check my notes and find a load that matches, I would look at my press and see what dies were in it. Then I would visually verify it.

If this didn't satisfy me and indicate without any doubt what powder was in the hopper, I would toss it.

This can work, up to a point. As I try new powders I've found that many of them look alike. The two worst that I have found are Hodgdons Leverevolution and CFE223. They not only look alike under magnification, but my Hornady powder measure throws identical charge weights from the same setting.

 

[stu1ritter]

I like records. I keep an ongoing log of what I am loading, what powder, what bullet, what DATE, yadda, yadda. It would be simple to just check the log and see what the last loading was. I would make that suggestion for your future loadings.
Stu

 

[dickttx]

I am in even worse shape so far as memory goes.
I only buy and load HP38 so there will be no mixups.
Eight pound jugs in the house in various closets. One pound "working" can on the bench.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I prescribe to the "one jug of powder at a time on the bench" philosophy as well.
No way to mix anything up that way.