Promo left in reloading press hopper

[Harriw]

Hey folks,

So last time I shot a round of skeet, it seemed to me that my reloads were cracking a tad sharper and recoiling a tad harder than usual. I could easily be mistaken as I only get the skeet field once a year or so these days, but I did get that impression...

I haven't changed any of the bushings on my MEC 600 Jr. since I first set it up for that load many years ago, and I know I always weigh several charges throughout a box of shells so I don't think I threw too much powder. That said, I generally reload my empties shortly after I bring them home, so the shells I shot that day were loaded many months before hand.

The only other thing I can think of is that I've left the powder in the hopper on that press for several years now. I knew it would degrade the plastic over time, but it was already smokey when I got it from the previous owner doing the same so I didn't worry too much about it (and it's the only powder I ever use on that press, or for shot shells period). Is it possible the powder degraded while sitting in the hopper for a few years? I wouldn't think so since a "sealed" powder bottle isn't really air-tight either (besides, isn't powder supposed to get weaker as it degrades)?

I'm just wondering if I should go ahead and keep using the powder left in the hopper, or just toss it in the garden and pour in some fresh powder from the bottle (then return it to the bottle when I'm finished...)?

Thanks!

 

[entropy]

Sure you didn't put a different powder in it in between? I always put a stick-on label on the powder bottle labeling the powder, and shot bottle with the size.

 

[Harriw]

Yup - Promo's the only powder I've ever used for shot shell reloading. LOL actually, the last time I used the MEC it was still my ONLY press, and the promo jar was the ONLY powder I had. So absolutely certain I didn't use the wrong powder.

 

[entropy]

What was the temperature when you last shot it? Some powders are temp sensitive, Green Dot for instance, definitely is. I keep my Green Dot reloads indoors until it's time to get out on the line in the winter.

 

[Harriw]

I'm not positive when I shot that round, but it would most likely have been around Memorial Day weekend, or in early August - both times when my wife takes the kids to visit the in-laws for a few days (I'm usually stuck home for work). So outside temp would have been reasonable in either case. I do store my ammo out in the garage year round.... its attached and insulated, but not heated. It tends to stay 10 degrees or so above outdoor temps in the winter, and 5 or 10 below outdoor temps in the summer.

 

[lordpaxman]

If you’re using bushings and not the adjustable charge bar, about the only thing you can do is throw less than a full charge. On a 650 jr you’d have to really really work at getting an overcharge. By any chance was it a different bottle of promo that was introduced? While not too likely batch to batch differences do occur. Is your shot weight, wad, and wad pressure correct?
I know as I age, things change including my perception of events. I’m certain the gravitational constant had changed, as I have trouble picking up 80# bags of Sakrete at Home Depot now. And those 12 gauges are going to get sleeved for 20’s.

 

[entropy]

I'm not positive when I shot that round, but it would most likely have been around Memorial Day weekend, or in early August - both times when my wife takes the kids to visit the in-laws for a few days (I'm usually stuck home for work). So outside temp would have been reasonable in either case. I do store my ammo out in the garage year round.... its attached and insulated, but not heated. It tends to stay 10 degrees or so above outdoor temps in the winter, and 5 or 10 below outdoor temps in the summer.

Bring it in the house and you will have eliminated one possible cause. How much powder is left in the bottle? If it's less than half, I'd toss it and start anew.

 

[Harriw]

Hi guys,

Nope, this was all from the same 8 pound jug, so all the same powder batch. There's only an inch and a half or so left in the hopper on the MEC, so maybe I'll play it safe and dump that out, and start with fresh from the jug. This was also with a fixed charge-bar and fixed bushings (my adjustable bar isn't fully flush, and tends to hang up slightly so I avoid using it if/when I can). Maybe I'll load up a box or 2 and keep them in the house until I use them to rule that out as well (or maybe put one box in the garage, one box in the house for comparison).

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[243winxb]

Hodgdon- Powder left in the reloader’s powder measure hoppers for extended periods, overnight or several days, should be avoided. Powder needs to be stored in original containers ONLY when not in
use. Numerous modern smokeless powders are double base in construction, containing both
Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine. Many powder measures use plastics containing polystyrene,
which Nitroglycerine adversely affects when contact is made for extended periods of time,
resulting in etching or misshaping the plastic. Normal usage during the reloading process does not provide adequate time for this to occur, so simply draining hoppers into the original containers when the reloading is completed for the day, prevents damaging the hoppers.

 

[FROGO207]

One possibility would be if the Promo dried out some before your last loading and atcually shrunk in size. That might get you a hotter charge but would think it would be 5% or less gain. That should not matter but you might have noticed it. Have you got any factory ammo? If that feels snappy as well you might be thinking it is diffrent and actually the same velocity. I hzve done this with 12 GA three inch magnum loads before. Guess I got wimpy in the last couple years.

 

[PWC]

A percieved problem, is a problem.

If you have any doubts, dump it out. That said, my father always said old shothun shells seemed to kick harder.