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Ammo and Reloading Factory Ammunition, Reloading, Components, Load Data and more. |
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#1
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How do you clean powder measure hopper?
My powder measure on my RCBS Pro 2000 has become hard to see when the powder is getting low. The green plastic hopper that holds the powder has become stained over the years. I never leave any powder in it, and always empty it when done reloading. I have wiped it out, but has not helped much.
Don't want to do anything that would contaminate my powder after cleaning. Does anyone have a suggestions? |
#2
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I might try denatured alcohol. It'll evaporate almost completely (if not completely) and is a decent solvent. I haven't tried to clean mine, but now that you mention it, it's pretty stained.
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#3
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I always empty mine immediately after use as the powder will mess up the hopper tube if left in overnight. My cleaning method involves tapping on the cast body while I move the rotor a couple times to get all the kernels out. All that's left is graphite. Eventually the tube gets too hard to see through. If a chemical-type flush and scrub doesn't work well enough then I install a new tube and start all over again.
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#4
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I've never been able to clean one up. The stain seems to work its way into the plastic. You will probably have to contact RCBS directly for a replacement. For that matter, their customer service is usually pretty good, and they may have a cleaning suggestion, too.
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#5
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They will send you a new one no questions asked. The real trick is installing the new one. May as well ask for some small primer plug assemblies and the little plastic thingies(detent, part 186265) for the primer feed while you are on the line. Always good to have spares.
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Real G's move in silence like lasagna Last edited by TKM; 06-10-2017 at 6:17 AM.. |
#8
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Replace it or just look down from the top to check the level.
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A 30cal will reach out and touch them. A 50cal will kick their butt. NRA Life Member, NRA certified RSO & Basic Pistol Instructor, Hunter, shooter, reloader SCI, Manteca Sportsmen Club, Coalinga Rifle Club, Escalon Sportsmans Club, Waterford Sportsman Club & NAHA Member, Madison Society member |
#11
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Hard to see through?
You can stand up and stretch occasionally and check it then or have a back light or get, if it fits, a Dillon low powder sensor or make your own that fits the hopper and applies a constant weight to the powder column. I clean the hopper with soapy water (and let air dry and not rinse off the soapy water) or with Hornady One-Shot Cleaner and Dry Lube (obviously, NOT case lube), but those won't clean if the "dirt" has penetrated (i.e., the cheap polystyrene plastic has discolored with age). Then, if the "dirt" is graphite, it is preventing static cling causing a bunch of powder kernels sticking to the hopper. |
#12
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Quote:
OR you could just MOD it... If you get a replacement part, cut out a rectangular window at the bottom of the cylinder portion and insert a clear plastic tube up against it. Now you will have a crystal clear window to look through and when it gets messed up, just cut out another piece and replace it. Hold it in place with a small piece of tape on either side. Be sure to buy a piece that is a little bit wider than your dropper container. Maybe an inch or two larger in diameter. Maybe something like this: http://www.cleartecpackaging.com/cle...tic-tubes.html Then you can cut off about a 1.5" section, cut a slit down one side so you can squeeze it together to make it fit inside, then slide it down. If I had this issue with no way to get the hopper replaced I would do this.
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7 Billion people on the planet. They aint ALL gonna astronauts. Some will get hit by trains... Need GOOD SS pins to clean your brass? Try the new and improved model... And remember- 99.9% of the lawyers ruin it for the other .1%... Last edited by stilly; 06-11-2017 at 11:57 AM.. |
#13
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I just emailed RCBS Customer Service, asking for cleaning methods they recommend. Would be great if they would send a replacement hopper. We shall see. They do have really good customer service, on par with Springfield. Just an FYI- I always empty the hopper once I am done reloading, and wipe it out too. I guess I just reload too much. I would bet I have reloaded at least 50K or more!
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#16
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Great!
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#17
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Let us know how the "replacing" part goes.
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#18
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Yeah, I was thinking about this and I thought it was all one piece. But maybe that green cylinder is screwed on and not perm attached.
__________________
7 Billion people on the planet. They aint ALL gonna astronauts. Some will get hit by trains... Need GOOD SS pins to clean your brass? Try the new and improved model... And remember- 99.9% of the lawyers ruin it for the other .1%... |
#19
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Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EF_aPMj6sY |
#21
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Once you get your new hopper, you might want to line the inside with a clear plastic sheet protector. That way, if/when it becomes discolored, you simply replace the liner.
Most double base pistol powders high in nitroglycerin content will eventually eat away and embed the graphite into the RCBS hopper. The same happens with Hornady hoppers and Mec shotshell bottles. With RCBS and Hornady, you can do the sheet protector trick, with the Mec bottles, you simply buy another bottle or use a 1 or 2 liter soda bottle trimmed properly because the thread on the powder and shot bottles are the same as with soda bottles. |
#22
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Another option is the Sinclair bottle adapter. I use it on mine. I can put a 1lb bottle straight onto the adapter, or use nalgene style plastic ones. they dont scar up, and you can put a plug in the bottom to fill them in use. Easy to store the extra powder in-between switches too. When my original hoppers wore out i went that direction.
http://item.brownells.com/groups/sin...ters/index.htm Quote:
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#23
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Quote:
__________________
7 Billion people on the planet. They aint ALL gonna astronauts. Some will get hit by trains... Need GOOD SS pins to clean your brass? Try the new and improved model... And remember- 99.9% of the lawyers ruin it for the other .1%... |
#24
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When my kids and I volunteered at the Hangtown Motocross races, I noticed a bunch of transparent plastic sheets at the bottom of the big jump. I then figured out that they were tearoffs from the rider's visors and they all tore them off in the middle of a 65 foot jump (I guess that's the one place on the course where they don't have to do anything else)
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#25
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>Briancnelson: Another option is the Sinclair bottle adapter. I use it on mine. I can put a 1lb bottle straight onto the adapter, or use nalgene style plastic ones. they dont scar up, and you can put a plug in the bottom to fill them in use. Easy to store the extra powder in-between switches too. When my original hoppers wore out i went that direction.
Wondering: 1) How did your hoppers wear out? I've got several 30 year old powder measures and the hoppers are still fine (discolored slightly, but working the same as day 1). 2) Why would someone who is freaked out because their hopper has "turned color" want to use an opaque "hopper" bottle? I think the idea has merit, but not for someone suffering OCD about their hopper turning slightly brown. Nope, they should get cut-crystal leaded glass hoppers. |
#26
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RCBS sent me a replacement hopper. Great customer service. The plastic hopper is pressed in, took a little twisting back and forth before it came out. Pushed the replacement in by hand, the put upside down and tapped it lightly until it seated.
Nollj- The hopper did not wear out, just got hard to see how much powder was remaining in the hopper, got very dark. I do not want to load any rounds with low or without any powder which would lead to squib loads. |
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