Powder in the Hopper?

[johnk518]

I keep reading in various manuals and online sources that state never leave the powder in the hopper for an extended period of time, even overnight or a week. Is this a real danger? I wasn't doing it for a while but started dumping the remaining back into the container. It kind of doesn't make sense, after all it's sitting in the cartridge for "extended periods of time".

[jericho89]

one of the main reasons to not do it is the powder can not be identified.

[TKM]

Nothing like dumping 2 or 3 thousand grains of powder into your 5 gallon bucket of empties because it clumped.......

Go ahead, ask me how I know. Ask me why I wear ear pro when vacuuming with a fire extinguisher in one hand....

[kcheung2]

Some (most?) powders have a chemical that will eat into the plastic of the hoppers. It won't dissolve through, but it will turn a transparent hopper translucent. There's also the issue that a hopper, even with the cap on, is not as moisture resistant as the original container.

[sirgrumps]

1.) type of powder
2.) Humidity
3.) Sunlight
4.) oxidation

Just to name a few off the top of my head

[anonymouscuban]

So to summarize...

1. Can't identify the powder so if you load multiple, you may forget what's in the hopper.

2. Moisture can contaminate the powder in the hopper. Especially so if your equipment is in a non-insulated space like a garage.

3. Turns the plastic hopper yellow/opaque.

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[johnk518]

I get the ID factor, but I thought they were warning me of something else. I guess the one that I really wondered about was not leaving it overnight. I leave it in the hopper longer than that sometimes when I'm reloading. But...I see it is just a good habit to do now.

[slayer61]

To me it just seems like a good idea to clean up at the end of the day.

What's the big deal about dumping powder back into the jug??

[Bt Doctur]

powder degrades when left exposed for long periods to air and humidity.
When the session is finished return to original container.

[JagerDog]

So to summarize...

1. Can't identify the powder so if you load multiple, you may forget what's in the hopper.

2. Moisture can contaminate the powder in the hopper. Especially so if your equipment is in a non-insulated space like a garage.

3. Turns the plastic hopper yellow/opaque.

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^^^^these

I get the ID factor, but I thought they were warning me of something else. I guess the one that I really wondered about was not leaving it overnight. I leave it in the hopper longer than that sometimes when I'm reloading. But...I see it is just a good habit to do now.

Overnight isn't an issue in most any environment.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Learn something new everyday

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I have one powder dispenser for pistol powders and one for rifle powders but always dump the extra into a labeled small bottle . I don't like to dump an ounce back into an 8 lb jug so each powder has an old 4 oz Rx bottle for it (yellow UV absorbing plastic). UV light can also degrade nitrocellulose hence it always comes in brown bottles from factory.
Depending on how many different powders you have - some can be distinguished by shape and color. I would never mistake Varget for TrailBoss.

[General]

Funny you should mention this.


I left two cans of powder on my bench.


A small amount of powder in the hopper for about ... maybe 3.



Which one was it!!?



I tossed it.

[Sheldon]

I have always left powder in my Dillon powder measures with no ill effect.... think years. I gave seen a green RCBS powder measure's plastic hopper react badly to having powder left in it, dont know how long. Looked like powder started to melt the plastic.

[FLIGHT762]

Some powders will melt the plastic on some powder hoppers. It may stick to the sides and can be difficult to remove.

This and the other listed issues, powder should be removed from the powder hopper when you're done reloading.

I left some Bullseye in a RCBS hopper about 4 decades ago, sticking the powder to the plastic and ruining the hopper. Luckily, I was able to get a replacement plastic hopper and didn't have to throw out the unit.