Reloads smell like urine when fired?

ScottRiqui · July 13, 2012, 07:15 PM

Kind of a strange question, but does any of your reloaded ammo umm... smell like pee... when you fire them? Specifically, cat pee?

I'm sure it's just the nitrogen compounds in the powder, and I'm probably just associating it with cat urine because I have cats, but a few of my reloads have been downright eye-watering.

Beagle333 · July 13, 2012, 07:23 PM

Nope. I just fired a few dozen and I just opened the ziplock of empties and took a li'l whiff, and it reminds me of the smell of the waiting room at a transmission repair shop.

(no idea why..... but that was the picture that jumped to the smell)

Vance · July 13, 2012, 07:37 PM

I have noticed it with Titegroup powder. Haven't noticed it with any other powder.

rtpzwms · July 13, 2012, 08:14 PM

Hint don't pee on your ammo...LOL

Ozzieman · July 13, 2012, 08:30 PM

When I got married my wife had 6,,,,, yes 6 cats so I know of the smell you’re talking about.
I use Titegroup and shoot a lot with it and many other powders. Never noticed that smell other than very old powder that was going bad.
How old is the powder your using and how does it smell in the can? Smelly powder is normally a sign that it’s going bad.

BillM · July 13, 2012, 08:31 PM

What powder? Titegroup has it's own smell, as does Trailboss. Some
shotshell powders are distinctive. An ammonia smell is one of the
indicators that powder is going bad---is it an old can?

SO--specifically what powder are you using?

eta: Ozzie, looks like great minds think alike, but you are a little
faster on the keyboard!

BDS-THR · July 13, 2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

does any of your reloaded ammo umm... smell like pee... when you fire them? Specifically, cat pee?

No. Never, regardless of powder manufacturer.

You powder may be bad and I would check it. Take off the cap and take a whiff. It should have a clean solvent smell to it. If it smells foul or rancid, it's bad or going bad.

Where do you store your spent cases? Perhaps a cat peed on them?

deepcore · July 13, 2012, 08:41 PM

Holy Pee Shooter Batman!

I've heard of this happening....putting the "ammo" in ammonia.
I think it's a powder selection (or age) thing.
I haven't experienced it myself with my (limited) experience with powder.
I tend to stick with what works for me so nothing but the beloved gun smoke smell from W231, W748, RL22, IMR 4895

Lost Sheep · July 13, 2012, 09:35 PM

Aside from odd smells perhaps indicating powder that is going bad, there is another caution to be aware of.

Urine decomposes into ammonia. Ammonia (even fumes) weakens brass. I read on another thread where ammunition stored near a cat's litter box wound up being dangerously weakened. (Warning: second hand information.)

I know some metal polishes contain ammonia, but most brass does not have to contain thousands of pounds per square inch pressure.

Take care,

Lost Sheep

armoredman · July 13, 2012, 10:39 PM

4 cats, lots of litter boxes, whew, what a smell. None are in the same room as the reloading gear.
Well, if you only wing him, you can tell the cops to look for the bleeding guy who smells like cat pee...sorry, couldn't help it.

res45 · July 13, 2012, 11:27 PM

IMR-4227 has a distinctive smell to it when fired. I wouldn't say the smell is like cat pee but it's different than the rest of my powders.

Vance · July 13, 2012, 11:33 PM

In my case, it's only after I fire the round that I smell the ammonia smell and only with titegroup. The powder doesn't smell like anything to me when it is in the plastic bottle it comes in. I only buy 1 pound at a time from the local store and it usually only takes me a couple of months to us it up.

I cast my own bullets and use White Label Lube's BAC for the bullet lube. I wonder if it's a reaction between the powder and the bullet lube?

BDS-THR · July 14, 2012, 02:05 AM

Maybe. I do not recall smelling cat pee when I used Titegroup with jacketed bullets.

**Mike Irwin** · July 14, 2012, 09:49 AM

I've smelled a lot of weird smells when shooting over the years.

Probably the worst was Fiocchi .32 Long ammo. AWFUL smell.

But none of it smelled like pee.

ScottRiqui · July 14, 2012, 10:04 AM

Well, like I was saying earlier, I may just be smelling the nitrogen compounds burning and thinking "cat pee" because that's a smell I'm familiar with. Someone else might smell the same thing and think of fertilizer.

I remember getting the smell with a can of VV powder I used several years ago. Right now, the only powder I'm using that burns with a strong smell is WST. I don't know how old it is, since I was given a 4-pound jug by a friend who couldn't keep it. But it smells okay in the can.

Someone mentioned cast bullet lube earlier - I'm also shooting cast bullets almost exclusively, so I'm wondering if that's contributing.

SSA · July 14, 2012, 09:12 PM

You're sure you're not using kitty litter in your tumbler.

603Country · July 14, 2012, 10:18 PM

After my target got pulled at the range the other day, I saw a few folks holding their noses. I'm really glad to think that it was that powder smell that made em do it.

BDS-THR · July 15, 2012, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

Someone mentioned cast bullet lube earlier - I'm also shooting cast bullets almost exclusively, so I'm wondering if that's contributing.

No again. I shoot lead loads in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP and have used various commercial brand bullets with different lubes and powders and no smell of cat pee.

Our perception of smell could be subjective. Could you have someone else verify the "cat pee" smell next time you are at the range?

If the powder smoke/smell is indeed bad, my guess is that the powder is going bad or bad already.

Ideal Tool · July 15, 2012, 01:10 AM

I like Starline brass..could there be a Feline brand?

Hammerhead · July 15, 2012, 10:37 AM

Trail Boss = cat pee.

Ethan.G · July 15, 2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Trail Boss = cat pee.

i learn something new every day on this sight.. /mental note, never buy trail boss

wrm · July 15, 2012, 12:47 PM

If you reload enough, you'll start complaining of the cat pee smelling like reloads.

It's just a frame of reference thing :-)

(Seriously, yes, you can often tell what kind of powder the fellow reloaded just by the smell)

ScottRiqui · July 15, 2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

I like Starline brass..could there be a Feline brand?

Okay, THAT was funny!!

Fastercat · July 15, 2012, 04:41 PM

There are some black powders with a pretty rank sulpher smells, but can't say I've ever smelled cat pee.

Marco Califo · July 15, 2012, 06:32 PM

It is your neighbor down the road. He doesn't like you. He's messing with your head. He sneaks in when you are not there and "uses" your powder bottles.

That is what my dog told me. And now it is on the internet, so it must be true!

July 13, 2012, 07:15 PM	#1
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Reloads smell like urine when fired? Kind of a strange question, but does any of your reloaded ammo umm... smell like pee... when you fire them? Specifically, cat pee? I'm sure it's just the nitrogen compounds in the powder, and I'm probably just associating it with cat urine because I have cats, but a few of my reloads have been downright eye-watering.

July 13, 2012, 08:14 PM	#4
rtpzwms Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2010 Location: OTS Posts: 1,035	Hint don't pee on your ammo...LOL __________________ Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.

July 13, 2012, 09:35 PM	#9
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	There's another caution here Aside from odd smells perhaps indicating powder that is going bad, there is another caution to be aware of. Urine decomposes into ammonia. Ammonia (even fumes) weakens brass. I read on another thread where ammunition stored near a cat's litter box wound up being dangerously weakened. (Warning: second hand information.) I know some metal polishes contain ammonia, but most brass does not have to contain thousands of pounds per square inch pressure. Take care, Lost Sheep

July 14, 2012, 09:49 AM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	I've smelled a lot of weird smells when shooting over the years. Probably the worst was Fiocchi .32 Long ammo. AWFUL smell. But none of it smelled like pee. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 15, 2012, 06:32 PM	#25
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,722	It is your neighbor It is your neighbor down the road. He doesn't like you. He's messing with your head. He sneaks in when you are not there and "uses" your powder bottles. That is what my dog told me. And now it is on the internet, so it must be true! __________________ ............

July 13, 2012, 07:23 PM	#2
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	Nope. I just fired a few dozen and I just opened the ziplock of empties and took a li'l whiff, and it reminds me of the smell of the waiting room at a transmission repair shop. (no idea why..... but that was the picture that jumped to the smell)

July 13, 2012, 07:37 PM	#3
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	I have noticed it with Titegroup powder. Haven't noticed it with any other powder.

July 13, 2012, 08:30 PM	#5
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	When I got married my wife had 6,,,,, yes 6 cats so I know of the smell you’re talking about. I use Titegroup and shoot a lot with it and many other powders. Never noticed that smell other than very old powder that was going bad. How old is the powder your using and how does it smell in the can? Smelly powder is normally a sign that it’s going bad.

July 13, 2012, 08:31 PM	#6
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 798	What powder? Titegroup has it's own smell, as does Trailboss. Some shotshell powders are distinctive. An ammonia smell is one of the indicators that powder is going bad---is it an old can? SO--specifically what powder are you using? eta: Ozzie, looks like great minds think alike, but you are a little faster on the keyboard!

July 13, 2012, 08:41 PM	#8
deepcore Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2010 Posts: 364	Holy Pee Shooter Batman! I've heard of this happening....putting the "ammo" in ammonia. I think it's a powder selection (or age) thing. I haven't experienced it myself with my (limited) experience with powder. I tend to stick with what works for me so nothing but the beloved gun smoke smell from W231, W748, RL22, IMR 4895

July 13, 2012, 10:39 PM	#10
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	4 cats, lots of litter boxes, whew, what a smell. None are in the same room as the reloading gear. Well, if you only wing him, you can tell the cops to look for the bleeding guy who smells like cat pee...sorry, couldn't help it.

July 13, 2012, 11:27 PM	#11
res45 Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 753	IMR-4227 has a distinctive smell to it when fired. I wouldn't say the smell is like cat pee but it's different than the rest of my powders.

July 13, 2012, 11:33 PM	#12
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	In my case, it's only after I fire the round that I smell the ammonia smell and only with titegroup. The powder doesn't smell like anything to me when it is in the plastic bottle it comes in. I only buy 1 pound at a time from the local store and it usually only takes me a couple of months to us it up. I cast my own bullets and use White Label Lube's BAC for the bullet lube. I wonder if it's a reaction between the powder and the bullet lube?

July 14, 2012, 02:05 AM	#13
BDS-THR Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2010 Posts: 479	Maybe. I do not recall smelling cat pee when I used Titegroup with jacketed bullets.

July 14, 2012, 10:04 AM	#15
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Well, like I was saying earlier, I may just be smelling the nitrogen compounds burning and thinking "cat pee" because that's a smell I'm familiar with. Someone else might smell the same thing and think of fertilizer. I remember getting the smell with a can of VV powder I used several years ago. Right now, the only powder I'm using that burns with a strong smell is WST. I don't know how old it is, since I was given a 4-pound jug by a friend who couldn't keep it. But it smells okay in the can. Someone mentioned cast bullet lube earlier - I'm also shooting cast bullets almost exclusively, so I'm wondering if that's contributing.

July 14, 2012, 09:12 PM	#16
SSA Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2010 Posts: 641	You're sure you're not using kitty litter in your tumbler.

July 14, 2012, 10:18 PM	#17
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 4,039	After my target got pulled at the range the other day, I saw a few folks holding their noses. I'm really glad to think that it was that powder smell that made em do it.

July 15, 2012, 01:10 AM	#19
Ideal Tool Junior member Join Date: October 6, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,080	I like Starline brass..could there be a Feline brand?

July 15, 2012, 10:37 AM	#20
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Trail Boss = cat pee.

July 15, 2012, 12:47 PM	#22
wrm Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 52	If you reload enough, you'll start complaining of the cat pee smelling like reloads. It's just a frame of reference thing :-) (Seriously, yes, you can often tell what kind of powder the fellow reloaded just by the smell)

July 15, 2012, 04:41 PM	#24
Fastercat Member Join Date: July 15, 2012 Location: Indy Posts: 17	There are some black powders with a pretty rank sulpher smells, but can't say I've ever smelled cat pee.