I am curious if anyone knows if leaving powder, say varget, in auto trickler or any powder thrower for a few days will let the powder pull moisture. Any harm in leaving in or should it be removed at end of each reloading???
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What is the point of only using 1 pound bottles? I use 8 pounds often. I do keep the 8 pound jugs in temp control and pour into 1 pound bottle for use so it is easier to pour. Then when the 1 pound bottle gets low I refill with the 8 pound.Powder should always be restored to a sealed container. Perhaps with a desiccant as well. I have read several articles, as well as more than a few posts here, discussing moisture contamination at length. Some people even advocated using only 1lb bottles to avoid ruining 8lb all at once.
Will powder exposed to moisture combust? Sure. The questionable provenance reloads my father bought 30 years ago also combusted. Will powder exposed to moisture combust in a stable predictable fashion conducive to precision? Doubtful.
What happen?After mistakingly leaving Titegroup in a Chargemaster overnight, I learned to never leave powder in anything for any reason, ever.
It etches/melts into the plastic. I think it's the high nitro content. Theoretically wouldn't be a problem with a stick powder but I'm not risking it.What happen?
The gentlemen who suggested 1lb containers was buying sealed powder 1lb at a time. 1lb containers would mean the other 7lbs is not also exposed to moisture while not in use. If you are running through 8lbs quickly I am not sure it would matter.What is the point of only using 1 pound bottles? I use 8 pounds often. I do keep the 8 pound jugs in temp control and pour into 1 pound bottle for use so it is easier to pour. Then when the 1 pound bottle gets low I refill with the 8 pound.
Thanks.The gentlemen who suggested 1lb containers was buying sealed powder 1lb at a time. 1lb containers would mean the other 7lbs is not also exposed to moisture while not in use. If you are running through 8lbs quickly I am not sure it would matter.
Somewhere in the forums there is a long post complete with testing results to corroborate moisture effects. The fact that moisture has measurable, and often overlooked effects, is my main contribution to your question.
That happened to me too on my Chargemaster.It etches/melts into the plastic. I think it's the high nitro content. Theoretically wouldn't be a problem with a stick powder but I'm not risking it.
It etches/melts into the plastic. I think it's the high nitro content.
I've read that most powder is packaged at around 50% RH.
Just curious, what "solvent" (water/acetone/alcohol?) is used to mix in the powder batch to soften it and extrude? Perhaps that is what "etches" the plastic? What happens when it completely evaporates as it ages?No etching, slight discoloration though
Months
It is controversial to say that you should put a desiccant in your powder. Powder comes from the factory at approximately 50% humidity and drying it out will increase the energy density of a given weight and will also increase the burn rate. Those things could have adverse effects on charges that were a near max load, if the powder gets increasingly dry or overtime. And also your velocities could change from session to session if humidity were not stablePowder should always be restored to a sealed container. Perhaps with a desiccant as well. I have read several articles, as well as more than a few posts here, discussing moisture contamination at length. Some people even advocated using only 1lb bottles to avoid ruining 8lb all at once.
Will powder exposed to moisture combust? Sure. The questionable provenance reloads my father bought 30 years ago also combusted. Will powder exposed to moisture combust in a stable predictable fashion conducive to precision? Doubtful.
No primers should be stored dry with desiccant.So are we saying that 50% humidity is the right amount and there is negative effects if it’s to high or to low?
Primers stored around 50% as well?
I thought of doing that too. I’m on the fence really.I air out powder before I use it purposely. The RH in my reloading room is about 23%. Powder in my area will speed up when exposed to the dry air in Colorado. I tested this with Varget in a 6BR. Old jug vs a new jug and then aired out the new jug a couple of days and retested it. Results were 2800fps with old jug, no pressure. Same load with new jug was 2720'ish and required something like another grain to get to 2800fps and started to show pressure. After airing out for two days that same powder was 2780 and the load showed no pressure.
In my area, airing(drying?) out powder is advantageous. It also means you're not fighting a continual and inevitable change in your powder over time even though you are trying to keep it sealed. I just let it change quickly by being completely exposed to ambient conditions and then it's consistent. I have found exposed powder will level out and more or less stabilize in my area. This also means I control the powder behavior and don't have to adjust to "lot to lot variations".