Well I thought I knew about "dirty powder"

[bomb dropper]

The story goes like this,

I wanted to load some 30-06 so I went to my local store where I've been buying powder for the last 6 months without a problem. They have great prices and since it's on base it's tax free. So I picked up a pound of IMR 4895 (i watched the employee open and remove it from the cardboard box) and brought it home.

I opened the container it had it's seal like all the others. Then I poured it into my powder throw till it was about a quarter of the way up the tube.

Well after about 5 throws I was got a really light charge (5 or 10grs) so I tried to throw straight to my pan and it trickled out. At this point I thought maybe I put my uniflow back together wrong or something after it's last cleaning. What I found still has me puzzled...








Sorry for the bad pics but my phone is all I have to upload.

 

[243winxb]

You need to call Hodgdon 913-362-9455 first thing monday. http://www.hodgdon.com/contactus.html

 

[RandyP]

I will go out on a limb and 'presume' you didn't find the dime in there too? lol

Anything manufactured or packaged, and I do mean anything, can suffer from the odd gremlin now and then. Stuff happens. Thankfully no critters were harmed in the making of those pictures.

I would expect the good folks at Hodgdon will make things right.

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

I am not surprised seeing as to how Hodgdon now builds the IMR powders. I have had prior issues with their extruded ( stick ) powders as well. You can only run a certain amount of time on a single production run in an extruder before the mixing screws start to shed pieces of product that build up on them and are supposed to get trapped in screens that set behind what is called a breaker plate. These screens start to plug up and pressure will blow them out and crud like you see will occur . I had some H4831 come to me that had shards of metal in it from an extruder screw and when I contacted Hodgdon they asked for the powder back and made one attempt to send me a replacement pound of powder and wouldnt answer any lettters or e-mails afterwards as a follow-up on what had happened. I tend to think they fear the chance of having to recall powders as is so exspensive for them. I now dump my newly opened pounders into a new 8x8 baking pan and check for crud before I use it. Recommend you call them and give em HELL . Make em spiff you an extra pound of powder for your trouble at minimum ....

 

[918v]

Sift it

 

[bomb dropper]

No the dime wasn't in there it was just a size reference. Haha

I will call them tomorrow. I ended up using about all the powder but I just charged my pan, picked out the junk and wieghed it. It was deffenetly the longest I've spent loading 100 rounds. And to top off my bad day my box of hornady 150 fmj/bt only had 98 in it.

 

[243winxb]

Sift it

Yes, no joke. Seems some of the shooters over on Benchrest Central do just that.

 

[Offfhand]

Post from above:

"I am not surprised seeing as to how Hodgdon now builds the IMR powders."

Actually, Hodgdon does not "build" the IMR powders. They apply that name to propellants they distribute but made by various manufacturers.

 

[rcmodel]

Seems some of the shooters over on Benchrest Central do just that.

I even read about a BR guy who screens ball powder to get the odd size balls out of it!!

Now, that's OCD in action right there!

rc

 

[GP100man]

Please keep us posted on how Hodgdon handles this !

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, please keep us updated on this and how Hodgdon handles it...

 

[H&R Glock]

I have a feeling they will tell you that "stuff happens" and an easy way to "fix it yourself."
I bought a thousand small pistol primers about 2 years ago, took em home to pull the handle. In the first box of 100 primers there was one large primer. I think it was a large pistol primer as it looked thin.
I took the box back to the gun shop where I bought them and the dealer told me that that sort of thing happens and don't worry about it. He was not interested in the lot number or anything.

Hell of a way to run a business. I can't remember what brand of primers they were. Either Federal or CCI as thats all they sell.
Go figure!

 

[dc.fireman]

I even read about a BR guy who screens ball powder to get the odd size balls out of it!!

Now, that's OCD in action right there!

rc

LOL.... I wish you hadn't told me that....

 

[No Good]

Hell, I thought everyone sifted their powder!?!?
LOL. Just kiddin.
But I will keep a sharper eye on my powder after hearing this!

 

[FROGO207]

If I was to screen all my propellant for proper size I would have to give up my day job for sure. Then I would not have the funds to worry about reloading any more. I do buy most of my stock in big jugs and use a 1 cup measuring cup to fill the hopper with and will watch out for crud as I do. So far my propellant has been fine but will keep an extra close eye out on it in the future.

 

[rfwobbly]

I'm sure Dillon, Hornady or RCBS is designing an "auto powder sifter" as we type !!

 

[cheygriz]

Contact IMR and they'll replace it free.

You can get a bad batch of anything. You can even get a lemon in a Maserati!