Left powder sitting around

[TheGerman]

Totally forgot about roughly 1lb of powder sitting in a Dillon dispenser I have on the far end of my bench. I've probably looked at it 100 times but it never registered that there was powder in it; sitting there for likely a year.

I poured it out and it looks fine, but is it still good/safe? It's not a huge amount so I'm not going to freak out over having to toss it, but if its still good then I'd use it.

How likely is this, or just toss it?

 

[Joey Dean]

Did you look at your powder measure?

The reason I ask is most powders are hygroscopic. They will abosorb moisture readily in other words. Is the inside of your measure etched? Are the metal parts corroded?

If so I would toss it and if not I would toss it anyway.

 

[milo 2.0]

If it's only one pound, I'd pitch it also. Norma, says it's powders should be stored at 40-50% humidity. VV says 59%, as reloaders we seem to strive for way lower levels, to keep rust in check etc... Most likely the powder is dried out and will be hotter than normal. If you have an 8lb jug, and can mix it in with fresh stuff you may be ok.

 

[turbo54]

Use it, it's fine.

 

[JoshcBoucher]

STOP! Don't pitch it. "Make 5 rounds, with it", and test it . It may be fine. A Lb. of powder, is $30, and hard to find these days. Test it.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

I too know "someone" who made a mistake similar to yours. The powder was fine, but the inside of the dispenser (PACT) was definitely deformed/etched. Took some cleaning, and scraping with a dental pic, to smooth out the surfaces and get it up and running good again. Now, there's no issues at all.

And the powder shot fine, too. Don't be as 'afeared' as some may suggest, but at the same time, start out small. Better safe than sorry.

And no, I won't mention the name of the 'guy' who did that, he feels bad enough about it as it is.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Seems to me, if it passes the sniff test, it should be okay? I have left powder in a powder measure for a week. And, that's in a single purpose locked room. A year? You have too many distractions! Blending it might be another option?

This is good advice. Always develop identical routine habits, do it the same, every time. That includes returning the powder to the container. BB

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Seems to me, if it passes the sniff test, it should be okay? I have left powder in a powder measure for a week. And, that's in a single purpose locked room. A year? You have too many distractions! Blending it might be another option?

This is good advice. Always develop identical routine habits, do it the same, every time. That includes returning the powder to the container. BB

I don't know about moisture being a problem over the course of a year, but OP is from Utah, so maybe that wouldn't be a problem, but for me here in Miami, I'd be feeding it to my plants.

$25 isn't worth gambling over when 55,000 psi is a mear half foot from your face.

As far as the OP staring at for a year, well, that's a lazy habit and lazy habits and reloading don't mesh well.


Chris

 

[gau17]

If it's Varget STOP. Ship it out to me for proper disposal.

 

[TheGerman]

If it's Varget STOP. Ship it out to me for proper disposal.

Not even kidding, it is.

The powder dispenser doesn't show any signs of any wear/rust/anything. The only thing that's changed is the clear tube itself is slightly yellowed from the powder. My profile says Utah but this powder was in an air conditioned room in Tampa, Florida that is pretty much for reloading only. I did notice that a sealed pound of Varget has a strong smell whereas this doesn't smell like anything.

It's only a pound, and I don't use Varget much anymore but I still hate to toss it; one half of me says just toss it while the other is screaming no.

The strange thing is, my normal procedure has me clearing the powder the same day. I think by knowing I did this, it never registered to me that I the possibility existed that there was powder in another dispenser. To save some face though, I do have a line of 11 of them, so its not like it was my only other one.

So No Corrosion = Good to Go?

 

[P7id10t]

Use it
A/C controlled atmosphere.
I wouldn't even sweat overlooking it

 

[Trapshooter12]

I lived in Reno which is close to the same climate as yours. I left some Shogun powder in my reloader for two years in my unheated gargae and it still worked fine. I just made sure it was not lumped together when I used it.

 

[Hakshot]

Be careful, The powder may be significantly hotter now and may damage your firearm and possibly you.

 

[avidflyer]

I keep pistol powder in my LNL all the time....no issues

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I keep pistol powder in my LNL all the time....no issues

For a full year?

Some guys have melted their ChargeMaster 1500s with pistol powder after only a couple of days. I've gone a few days when I knew that I was going to be reloading the same ammo, but I try and keep a tidy establishment around here, lol.

Some powders can damage plastics, over time, so just be careful.

You should have seen the guy's pictures of his CM1500. The green body housing looked like somebody had taken a blow-torch to it and then sprinkled some Unique (or whatever it was) on the hot, melting plastic.

Chris

 

[BuzzBoss915]

" I did notice that a sealed pound of Varget has a strong smell whereas this doesn't smell like anything."

then says: "So No Corrosion = Good to Go?"

Did somebody say that the determinate is; corrosion or lack of corrosion? If so, I didn't see it?

But, I say, and am sure of this: If you cannot smell the solvent vapors..... the powder is suspect. BB

 

[turbo54]

But, I say, and am sure of this: If you cannot smell the solvent vapors..... the powder is suspect. BB

I was given a 1/2 can of *Hercules* Reloder 15 that was easily 20 years old.

I trusted the fellow I got it from, that it was indeed RL15

It looked OK

It had no scent whatsoever

It not only worked great, but shot THE SAME as a brand new bottle of Alliant RL15.

 

[damoncali]

Powder lasts for many years. I've shot some positively ancient batches without issue. I'd be more worried about knowing exactly what powder it is, as memories fail.

 

[P7id10t]

For a full year?

Some guys have melted their ChargeMaster 1500s with pistol powder after only a couple of days. I've gone a few days when I knew that I was going to be reloading the same ammo, but I try and keep a tidy establishment around here, lol.

Some powders can damage plastics, over time, so just be careful.

You should have seen the guy's pictures of his CM1500. The green body housing looked like somebody had taken a blow-torch to it and then sprinkled some Unique (or whatever it was) on the hot, melting plastic.

Chris

I've had RL17 sitting in my Chargemaster for a week now because I load ~20 rounds a day when I get a few minutes. No effect on the tube yet.

 

[jwp6114]

Also there is one other thing u can check... Dump a charge of your normal amount into a case, if it looks like its way high in the case for that charge toss it or eat the bolt like my buddy almost did...

Wish I kept the pics. He measured the charge weight multiple times and dumped it in the case to notice it sat way further up the case shoulder/neck... He smashed a bullet and banged it... Blew his extractor out of bolt and blew mag out... Not good,

It's not worth it if u suspect it bad. Post up pics if u damage anything so others can heed the warning.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I've had RL17 sitting in my Chargemaster for a week now because I load ~20 rounds a day when I get a few minutes. No effect on the tube yet.

Well, that powder might be fine, but some powders react with the plastic and frak things up.

There are pictures to prove that, if the archives here, aren't blown to shit and they actually were with the software change.

Just saying.

Chris

 

[turbo54]

Well, that powder might be fine, but some powders react with the plastic and frak things up.

There are pictures to prove that, if the archives here, aren't blown to shit and they actually were with the software change.

Just saying.

Chris

Sure do. Blue Dot will straight up EAT plastic, given a little time.

 

[P7id10t]

Well, that powder might be fine, but some powders react with the plastic and frak things up.

There are pictures to prove that, if the archives here, aren't blown to shit and they actually were with the software change.

Just saying.

Chris

Chris, it is without a doubt you are extremely knowledgeable, and know way more than I do. So I apologize - I certainly did not mean to say "neener, neener."

I should be more precise: I have RL17 sitting in my chargemaster. I leave it there because I've been doing a few loads every day. However, I watch it because I don't trust it will not react with the plastic.
Having read here that powder does react, I will be more watchful in the future.

Powder comes in black plastic containers for a reason: (1) it probably reacts with most plastics, and (2) it breaks down in sunlight (fast) / ambient light (not as fast).

There's a seal on the lid of these things for a good reason -- containing VOCs, they outgas. If the seal remains good, the outgassing will slow down due to pressure inside the container. Kinda like oil paint: if you put the lid on not so tight, don't be surprised at the skin on top when you reopen it. (pet peeve -- kids and wife don't reseal cans very well).

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Everythings good. I'm not trying to be combative, either, just pointing out that for whatever reason, some powders chew up the Pact and RCBS auto dispensors and do a nasty job of it when they attack.

Obviously, all plastics aren't the same. I was just putting away a LogiTech laser mouse and the bottom of the mouse has started to get gooey and tacky, as if that bottom surface is slowly melting. The four hard points, plastic as well, are fine. Shitty plastic? I don't trust the Chinese as far as I can throw them.

After 18+ years, my Dillon measure has yellowed, but has not been 'etched' and I've run all sorts of powder through it. While a bit unsightly, it's working 100%...which is why I've put some reloading stickers on it!

Chris

 

[Sniper Uncle]

Thanks for the thread and all the info in it. I have left powder in my dispenser quite often. My dispenser lives on a shelf by itself, and I leave the one can that the powder came from right with it. All other powders are on a different shelf/shelves. I did not know that powder could eat some plastics, so I shall be careful to put all powders away from now on. Thanks again for all the info.

 

[s4b1106]

All this discussion of solvents and moisture content of smokeless powders... Anybody remember buying powder in cardboard containers? I still have a pound of Hogden 4198 in a rectangular cardboard can. Shot fine the last time I loaded out of it a couple of years back. My dad has 20 or so pounds of Unique and 2400 that he purchased in cardboard kegs many years ago. They shoot fine. On the other hand, I had a 5 pound can of IMR 4831 that someone gave me from his garage that was ruined from heating/cooling that had degraded and had red dust in it.