How long to you leave powder in charger

ramdino

How long does everyone leave powder in their RCBS powder charger, or any other for that matter?

Rocky Raab

Only until I'm done with that batch, and then the powder goes immediately back into its can.

Powder not only gains and loses moisture while exposed to air, but it can dissolve some measure tubes, ruining both the tube and the powder. PLUS, there's always the danger of forgetting what powder you have in the thing. Not all that smart.

gknaka2

Yep I got scolded by the gang on here for doing it for 15+ years. Bottom line is that nothing good can come by leaving it in the hopper. Accident waiting to happen.

I have forsaken laziness for safety.

JustC

I never leave it in the tube.

Justjump

I leave the can on the bench right behind the measure while loading. Then empty hopper back to can as soon as I'm done.

bobski

for shotguns, its doesnt matter.
my powder is stored in tubes and some has been there for years. fires just fine.

Rocky Raab

I worked in a gun store and saw a LOT of used reloading equipment. Nearly every single shotshell reloader I ever saw had a discolored powder tube. Some were merely yellowed, some were a deep orange and some were nearly black - and the darker the color, the more the insides of the tube were pitted, pocked or "melted" by contact with powder.

Powder is by its nature highly reactive. Nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin contain very strong acids and solvents. In contact with plastics, both the plastic AND the powder are chemically altered. That can't be good.

It is also true that the tubes themselves have certainly changed over the years. Part of the reason may well be to reduce their susceptibility to powder deterioration. Measures made overseas may not be made the same as those made here. Do you recall news about poisonous toys and flammable kids' clothing? You think they'd be more careful with tools? I doubt it.

Hawk Carse

I am a bad boy, I leave powder in my progressive loader measure hoppers. They are somewhat discolored but not badly, no worse than the shot hopper on my MEC which is blackened with graphite and lead.

I once left powder - Power Pistol, a variant of Bullseye with a lot of Nitroglycerine - in an RCBS Uniflo and it heavily etched the cheap acrylic plastic, even imbedding granules into the softened plastic. They can warn against it all they like but that is a cheap product to be so affected. Star used a tempered glass hopper and Phelps metal which are not affected.

Oakie

quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
Only until I'm done with that batch, and then the powder goes immediately back into its can.

Powder not only gains and loses moisture while exposed to air, but it can dissolve some measure tubes, ruining both the tube and the powder. PLUS, there's always the danger of forgetting what powder you have in the thing. Not all that smart.


+1[;)]

bobski

but it stills fires. 30 years of reloading confirms it.[;)]

Rocky Raab

You're a big boy now. If shooting loads that are X% powder and Y% plastic doesn't bother you, it is no dermis from my proboscis.

Willys 1948

Very bad reloading habit to leave powder in hoppers or tubes. Not just because of possible moisture absorption or ruining equipment but for safety reasons. It doesn't take long to recharge the tube or hopper. Be safe and immediately put it back in the marked container after a session at the bench. You'll be able to sleep better at night!

gknaka2

I now have a new system where I put very little powder in the tube and when it's gone, I'm done for the day.

It works but you have to watch near the end to avoid squib rounds.

Mobuck

Right now my reloading area is at a very low humidity and very consistent temp. My powder measure will likely have powder in it for the next couple of weeks. Between runs, I cover it with a large ziplock and close it as far as the stand will allow.