Clumping powder

[kevins750]

Pulled some bullets today from some rounds I reloaded about 4 months ago.

Several of the 10 I pulled had some powder clumped and some I had to tap on the bench to get it to pour out. Powder was H335, if they where wet I don't know how it could have gotten in. They are kept in a metal cabinet about 5 feet above the garage floor.

[bsumoba]

maybe excess lube?

[kevins750]

I don't think so. These are hunting rounds I loaded with my single stage and when I size I just rub wax with my thumb and booger picker. Unless it picked it up from the scale tray, maybe I contaminated it then? The clumps would break up when I poked them, I discarded the powder anyway. I was thinking originally I used the .311 ball and the bullets didn't feel tight(since then I have turned it down)
Maybe the few that got through with the less than normal tension are the problem.

[hermosabeach]

Do you dry tumble or wet tumble when reloading?

[LynnJr]

If the powder turns reddish in color or smells acrid like cat urine the powder has gone bad.
Where the clumps wet or dry? Wettish powder means it is breaking down. Dry powder clumped together that easily breaks apart usually shoots just as well but has come in contact with a source of contamination.

[Cheep]

Were they compressed loads?

[rg1]

Not related but in the past I occasionally bought 100 new brass in plastic packaging just for having something to load. Later I needed some new brass for a project and pulled the bullets. It was Win 748 powder and it was clumped and turned black and stuck to the inside of the case. I believe the cases were contaminated with forming lube and not properly cleaned? I wonder if they would have fired and if so dangerous.