Emptying a hopper of powder

FyreFighter

FyreFighter

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Just getting started at putting together a loading bench and so I am doing a lot of reading. Pretty much every source I've read said to empty the hopper of powder and put it back into the original container. As someone with a chemistry background, that seems unthinkable. Is it possible to contaminate the entire batch if there is some sort of oil or grease in the hopper? Isn't it possible to contaminate the entire batch if there is some sort of oil/grease?

Doesn't it make sense to put in just enough powder to load the number of cases you plan on reloading and so minimize the amount of powder which would spill or have to be put back in the container in the first place?

Thanks in advance,

FF
 
Question, why would there be ANY oil or grease in your hopper in the first place to contaminate anything?

Trying to imagine how this would happen, but I just don't see it unless it was intentionally put in the hopper.
 
The nature of contamination is that it SHOULDN'T be there and you may not know it is there. But hypothetically, your press is set up and the hopper lid is off. You spray some RemOil onto another part and some makes its way into the open hopper.

Or you pour the powder into the hopper using a funnel which isn't as clean as you think it is.

FF

Grove said:
Question, why would there be ANY oil or grease in your hopper in the first place to contaminate anything?

Trying to imagine how this would happen, but I just don't see it unless it was intentionally put in the hopper.
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Most "hoppers" or powder throwers need a certain level to provide consistent measurements. When they get near empty the amount dispensed can change a lot.
 
Why would there be oil or grease in the measure? A measure works best when its filled to a constant level. The big reason for putting the powder back in its container is so it doesn't dehydrate more than it has to from exposure to air.

We're loading shells, not building a rocket.:p
 
FyreFighter said:
The nature of contamination is that it SHOULDN'T be there and you may not know it is there. But hypothetically, your press is set up and the hopper lid is off. You spray some RemOil onto another part and some makes its way into the open hopper.

Or you pour the powder into the hopper using a funnel which isn't as clean as you think it is.

FF
Click to expand...

Someone that careless should not be reloading......I'm leaving it at that.
 
Grove: I agree, which is why I am surprised that reloaders typically throw the unused powder back into the original container instead of a secondary container. That would never happen in a chemistry lab. Once a chemical leaves the original bottle, it never goes back. There shouldn't be any contaminant, but you never know.

Dogleg & Seagull: thanks for the info regarding powder level. Makes sense.

FF
 
Porschemann: I was merely giving a hypothetical scenario in which a little bit of oil or other chemical could accidentally make its way into a hopper (empty or full). I wasn't suggesting it was good practice. Watching youtubers, there's some pretty sloppy practice out there and some pretty messy, cluttered benches.

As you might have guessed, I am pretty conscientious about how I approach things and I tend to be methodical when I do things.

Thanks,

FF
 
The fact that you are asking the question indicates that you want to be careful. This is good. When cleaning/lubing your press, do it carefully with the powder hoppers far away. The powder hoppers and measures should always be clean and dry. There is no reason to lubricate them. I use two different Lee measures that can use the same interchangeable hoppers. When you are finished reloading you turn the hopper a quarter turn to shut off powder flow, then you can cycle the measure a few times to empty it and take the hopper off and dump the powder back into its original container.
When I have powder in 8lb jugs I usually put some into a well labeled 1 lb can because I find it easier to handle this way.
 
Reloading is not directly comparable to the exacting science and rigorous process found in chemistry labs or clean rooms. If it was, none of us would be able to do it at home. Yes, APPROPRIATE caution and consistency of process are required and as such, reloading is not for everybody. If you are the type that rushes to the goal rather than enjoying the process, then I would suggest that buying factory ammunition is safer for you. Conversely, the process can be over managed to the point of exceedingly consistent rounds but very low volume. I've been reloading a variety of powders for 5 years now. I have had instances of contamination, primarily from cleaning media left in primer pockets or in the bottom of a case. The small amounts of powder in those instances was disposed of. I have never rendered a batch of powder useless through pouring it back into the bottle where it came from. The other posters are correct that most powder measures, especially those on progressive presses, work better when filled to a minimum level. Any minute amount of oil that might enter the powder measure is unlikely to affect enough powder to change the charge - it is more likely a bit of powder would stick to the inside cone of the measure, but this would be measured in 10ths of a grain and again, unlikely to change a charge with any significance.
 
redruns said:
There's nobody keeping you from using a secondary container of that is what you're used to. IMHO it's unnecessary.
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I use a secondary container to keep all the trickler powder separate, as I use powder I've spilled(pulling bullets, tin with 10 loads spilled) on the bench for that (only reload 1 cartridge, 2 powders) and rather not add who knows what bench crud to the powder keg.
 
FyreFighter said:
Porschemann: I was merely giving a hypothetical scenario in which a little bit of oil or other chemical could accidentally make its way into a hopper (empty or full). I wasn't suggesting it was good practice. Watching youtubers, there's some pretty sloppy practice out there and some pretty messy, cluttered benches.

As you might have guessed, I am pretty conscientious about how I approach things and I tend to be methodical when I do things.

Thanks,

FF
Click to expand...

Oh I get it... festidious. So, if you think something is contaminated or two powders get mixed, then dump it, render it inert and move on. There is a "procedure" we all follow. Only ONE powder out on the bench, lid ALWAYS on hopper, keep everything marked, and you'll not have a problem. My point was, if you have OPEN powder on the bench and your playing now with oil/spray etc.... then reloading isn't the hobby for you (or anyone like that).
You don't sound like that kind of person so don't worry about a problem you will never have! Here is my basic process....
-prep equipment and get ready. Verify it is ready from last time.
-load desired powder
-finish what I start, and do my loading
-clean up and return remaining powder to SAME original container
-clean off bench, put all stuff away.
-service equipment and get it ready for the next day.

It really is a simple process
 
Porschemann said:
Oh I get it... festidious. So, if you think something is contaminated or two powders get mixed, then dump it, render it inert and move on. There is a "procedure" we all follow. Only ONE powder out on the bench, lid ALWAYS on hopper, keep everything marked, and you'll not have a problem. My point was, if you have OPEN powder on the bench and your playing now with oil/spray etc.... then reloading isn't the hobby for you (or anyone like that).
You don't sound like that kind of person so don't worry about a problem you will never have! Here is my basic process....
-prep equipment and get ready. Verify it is ready from last time.
-load desired powder
-finish what I start, and do my loading
-clean up and return remaining powder to SAME original container
-clean off bench, put all stuff away.
-service equipment and get it ready for the next day.

It really is a simple process
Click to expand...

Yea and amen Porschemann!!
 
+1 particularly the cleaning up and servicing the equipment part - not nice to come back to a messy work area...
 
The reason why manufacturers recommend to go over a pound of powder is to make a special film of residue that only powder can make. This will de energise the static particle and leave just the coating which allow proper metering and smooth ( depends on powder ) operation. Because if hopper is new powder can stay attached to part of the thrower and give improper metering. Unless you check each charge this is hard to notice. After use it will be ok with all powders and operate as it should.
 
I have been returning unused powders to their original containers from hoppers for decades without any issues.

I do NOT leave powder in any hopper for an extended period of time, and always only one powder out at a time.

Contamination would only occur if someone was particularly lax in their loading procedures.

Regards, Dave.
 
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