How long do you leave the powder in the hopper of your ChargeMaster, before it starts to lose its potency???
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RCBS ChargeMaster / Powder Storage??
- Thread starter bigjake83
- Start date
We live in a dry area, so I have left it for months with no problems, however if you live in a humid area I would suggest returning any unused powder back to the container.
I put it back in the bottle even if I will throw more later the same day. It can get pretty humid here (Texas). Maybe piece of mind more than anything.
I don't have a Chargemaster, but I don't leave any powder in my measure. It goes back in the container as soon as I am done with the loading session. If you ask Hodgdon (I did) they will tell you not to leave it out of the container, even just overnight.
I'm wondering what the difference would be between putting it back in the container and putting the lid on the chargemaster. They're both sealed. I have 2 chargemasters and leave 4064 in one for my 308 and 4350 in the other for my Creedmoor.
I empty mine and put the powder back everytime.
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I left H1000 in my ChargeMaster once for a month - never again. Basically ruined a pound of powder. We are talking from my normal SD of 6 to an SD of 25. Fresh powder, back to normal. A little humidity in there and the oxidation process starts. I should have known because the color had shifted just a tad lighter than "fresh" color.
I never leave it in the CM. Not because of it ruining but because Im afraid that I might confuse one powder for another or forget whats in there etc. As soon as I finish loading a batch it gets emptied back into the container. Its an easy step to take to avoid potential disaster.
I've left in overnight if I'm shooting the next morning and will charge more the same afternoon, but the time it takes to empty, makes no sense not to.
ill chime in on the other end...i leave my powder in both my chargemasters (and my dillon powder drops) until i switch calibers/powders...sometimes for months at a time...i switch between varget/h4350/h1000/8208 xbr and havent noticed any reason to worry about it...i live in south tx where its extremely humid, but my garage is tied into my central AC so it stays between 65-75 degrees year round...your results my vary, especially if your reloading room isnt well climate controlled...but i aint worried about it for the past 3 yrs ive been running chargemasters
I empty my Chargemaster every time. But I have left powder in my Dillon for months before (albeit in a dehumidified room) with no issues. I leave the can of powder on the bench next to it so I remember what is in there and also mark it in a book. Chargemaster is so easy to empty so I don't mind doing that every time though.
i live in the same area, same garage it sounds like, and do the same thing. ill pull it out once i am done with that batch and i know i wont be reloading that caliber for a couple days. if i am going back to work on it the next day then it stays in the hopper.
My basement isn't climate controlled. I do have a de-humidifier down there, but if I forget to empty it the basement can get really humid very quickly in the summer. If I could control the humidity and temperature in my basement I would probably be more comfortable leaving the powder in the Hopper. But, I'd rather be safe than sorry so I empty the RCBS everytime and store powder only in the containers it is packaged in.
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that is the key. i got lucky and got a deal on the AC garage which i will tell you now is worth it if you live in the heat like we do in south Texas. however, i know not everyone is as fortunate so you must do it with what you got. i used to do all of mine in an apartment so I would say what ever works best for you and eases your mind. to me, i havent seen any vertical spreads at 1000 yards that make me think the powder is doing anything other than it is supposed to do.
I empty my powder measures not because of humidity, but because I load with multiple powders. I always think I'll remember. I know it's too easy to make a mistake. So back in the container it goes. I confess that early in my reloading (long ago) some powder had to be discarded because I forgot.
Oh yes. I've done that more than once. Infuriating.
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i always leave the powder container next to any hopper or drop it is in because i KNOW ill forget lol my dillon powder throwers and chargemasters...jug im using stays right next to them always lol
Living in Arizona I usually leave the powder in the ChargeMaster until I'm thru loading a run of 308 and 556. Could be a week or two
I tried that. I really told myself I would remember. I very briefly considered just comparing physical appearances. And when I say discarded, I mean asking my young son if he wanted to see something cool out in the yard and was Mom home.
This is exactly what I do so I can't get it mixed up. My rule is to never have more than one powder out at a time. I have also left powder in the chargemaster for a few months at a time with no issues but I always have the heat or air on. I never open the windows in the house because of our allergies.
After seeing what pistol powder does to the plastic hopper tube when left for a week, I empty any powder measure device after a loading session, including my charge master.
Same as above for me.
I leave the powder in my Chargemasters. I only run two types of powders and have a CM for each that are marked for each powder. I haven't seen any problems yet and have been doing it this way for two years.
i can't remember my wife's birthday but I never forget to double check the side shoot on my charge master. Ask me why lol
