when switching powders do you clean..

[thelaststand]

how do you clean up the powder dispensor? How do yall clean it up?

I had to switch to bullseye because I can't find titegroup.

For 9mm FMJ, what load do yall use for bullseye?

 

[Fatelvis]

I just empty the hopper, and make sure all the old powder is drained from the slidebar (or measuring cavity) before filling the hopper with different powder. I don't clean the interior.

 

[LiveLife]

Same as Fatelvis. I just pour out powder in the hopper into a container other than the original powder container and tap out any remaining powder particles (I never put back powder into the original container to prevent "accidental" mixing of powder types).

The fine black powder residue you see coating the inside of the hopper is not powder but graphite coating off the powder flakes. I never wipe off this black residue as it lubricates my Pro Auto Disk hopper wiper and disk.

 

[Shrinkmd]

I just pour out powder in the hopper into a container other than the original powder container and tap out any remaining powder particles (I never put back powder into the original container to prevent "accidental" mixing of powder types).

I thought that this was a big no-no, since powder should only be stored in its original container so you never, ever use the wrong one.

Are you really worried about cross contaminating powders? When I clean out the hopper it is totally empty. Sometimes I whack the plastic with my bullet puller, or use some dry paper towel wrapped around the handle of the bullet puller to rattle the last few flakes off. If there is any powder left in there, it might be 0.1 gr or less, probably way less. Even if there was 0.1 gr (which would be a lot left) dumping that back into a 1lb or larger can of powder is spitting in the ocean, right?

 

[LiveLife]

Are you really worried about cross contaminating powders?

No.

I buy all of my powders in 8 lb containers. I have several clear plastic jars marked W231/HP38, Bullseye, etc. that I pour 1-2 lbs of powder into for bench use. When I switch powder in the hopper, the powder gets poured back into these plastic jars. For me, it's convenience, not concern over powder contamination.

I also have a practice of never putting powder back into the 8 lb container - mainly to avoid a situation where a little bit of another powder type gets mixed in with 8 lbs of powder. If I used 1 lb containers, I would put powder from the hopper back in the original container.

 

[mbopp]

I only have one can of powder out on the bench at a time to prevent cross-contamination.
I just dump the powder back into the container and cycle the handle a few times to clear it out.
Long ago I buffed the inside of the measure with powdered graphite to prevent that annoying static cling.

 

[RustyFN]

I thought that this was a big no-no, since powder should only be stored in its original container so you never, ever use the wrong one.

Same here. I always pour the powder back into the original bottle after every reloading session.

I just pour out powder in the hopper into a container other than the original powder container and tap out any remaining powder particles (I never put back powder into the original container to prevent "accidental" mixing of powder types).

To me that is the reason you only have the bottle of the powder you are using on the bench and no more. As long as you never have more than that one bottle you can't get it mixed up.

 

[NVMM]

Need a bullet weight???

 

[Walkalong]

I clean it any time I think some powder is still hiding in there. If I can see a few granules or flakes that will not come out I remove the reservoir and clean with a soft brush.

I always pour it back into the 1 Lb container I got it from. For powders that I have in 4 or 8 pound jugs I still transfer some to a 1 Lb jug for filling the measure. I refill the 1 Lb jug as needed from the large jug. I keep a bunch of 1 Lb jugs in my load bench. (In a closed compartment. Only one on the bench top at a time) The big jugs are stored seperately. I also have 1 Lb jugs I rarely use stored seperately.

 

[thelaststand]

thanks for the answers

I'm going to shoot 115 grain FMJ at the range
Do yall know the min and max load for that?

 

[LiveLife]

For 115 gr FMJ - Suggested starting load for Bullseye: 4.5 gr Max: 5.0 gr 1,180 fps 1.12" OAL - Alliant

 

[Mike 27]

I clean mine out every once in a while. I will take it down and wipe it out with alchohol or mineral spirits, and it tends to make it more consistant for a while.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Dump one powder. Shake the dispenser. Blow into the hopper. Fill with next powder. Start reloading again.

Can't remember when I cleaned out my powder dispenser. Old you know...Must have been in the last 5 years or so...I think...

 

[buck460XVR]

Dump one powder. Shake the dispenser. Blow into the hopper. Fill with next powder. Start reloading again.

yep....me too.

 

[Sport45]

Dump one powder. Shake the dispenser. Blow into the hopper. Fill with next powder. Start reloading again.

If you substitute "Cycle the measure a few times" for "Blow in the hopper" you'd have my method.

I always dump powder back into the container it came out of. (The only one on the bench.)