Dumb..dumb mistake..

Blarneystone · July 14, 2002, 06:13 PM

Hi,

I was just cleaning up my garage and happened to uncover my reloader and find that my powder dispenser on my Lee Loader is full of powder and has been since the fall of last year! I just haven't had any money to go shoot at the range so I haven't even though about reloading.

What should I do with this powder? Is it bad? It's still covered and dry, but I dunno...seems like it may have gone stale or something.

Seriously, should I put it back in the container? I only have one brand of powder so I know where it came from...or is there some secret way of disposing of it without burning down the house?

thanks!

at2000 · July 14, 2002, 07:29 PM

I don't have any experience determining if powder has gone bad. However, I once had to dispose of some powder in preparation for moving. I disposed of it by scattering it on the lawn. I believe this was one disposal method recommended by one or more of my reloading manuals. You should check a good reloading manual.

mec · July 14, 2002, 07:35 PM

It is a recommended expensive fertilizer. If the powder looks good and doesn't present a sharp odor, it is probably still good.

jjmorgan64 · July 14, 2002, 08:55 PM

I agree, the powder is probrably still fine. What is the main difference if the powder is stored in the plastic hopper, or the plastic jar?

The funnest way to dispose of it, however is to simply dump it into a pile and light it,(from a distance) you can get some pretty impressive flames.

I don't recommend this with black powder, however, doesn't give you much time to get out of the way.

**Mike Irwin** · July 14, 2002, 09:21 PM

Hell, I've had the hopper of my Lee loader full for well over a year before.

I just verified my powder settings, and started loading.

No problems at all.

Chuck Dye · July 14, 2002, 09:56 PM

If there is ABSOLUTELY no question of what powder it is and no obvious changes such as a new odor, clumping, breakdown (fines-dust) I think I might load a few starting loads and try them. ANY questionable qualities and I would feed the lawn or torch it.

An e-mail or phone call to the manufacturer is a good move, also.

LAH · July 15, 2002, 05:01 AM

I'll go with HucK on this one.

Larry Ashcraft · July 15, 2002, 05:50 PM

We moved about 8 years ago and I stored my powder in a damp basement. When I started reloading again 2 years ago I worried about my old kegs of powder but I had too much to throw away. Talked to a local gunsmith who said that as long as the powder is not clumped and has a "good strong chemical smell" it should be good. So far he has been right.

One keg of 4227 was in a steel gallon can. When pouring or metering it gives off a puff of rust in the air. Naturally I was worried about that but I had 8 lbs. of it so I loaded up some starting loads and they work fine.

saands · July 15, 2002, 06:09 PM

Dumb, Dumb Mistake????? That was just an oversight

"Dumb Mistake" would be charging a case with 40 grams of powder when the recipe called for 40 grains

blades67 · July 15, 2002, 08:55 PM

If you decide to get rid of it you can pour it down a sink drain with running water if you don't want to throw it on the lawn.

I'd try loading it.

CheapSeats · July 15, 2002, 09:30 PM

Try loading a few rounds and see how they shoot. Powder doesn't go bad real easily. As long as it was in a closed container and didn't get polluted with something it is probably fine.

Of course if it smells significantly different than it should then you might want to just use it for fertilizer. Spread it over your lawn and water it.

ZeusOne · July 16, 2002, 09:22 AM

As a rule, we reloaders don't like waste, but there's not that much powder in a Lee hopper. So given all the variables, feed the lawn and walk away to load another day.

Blarneystone · July 16, 2002, 09:22 PM

Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll give it a try. I'm pretty nervous about getting my stuff right.

July 14, 2002, 06:13 PM	#1
Blarneystone Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2001 Posts: 152	Dumb..dumb mistake.. Hi, I was just cleaning up my garage and happened to uncover my reloader and find that my powder dispenser on my Lee Loader is full of powder and has been since the fall of last year! I just haven't had any money to go shoot at the range so I haven't even though about reloading. What should I do with this powder? Is it bad? It's still covered and dry, but I dunno...seems like it may have gone stale or something. Seriously, should I put it back in the container? I only have one brand of powder so I know where it came from...or is there some secret way of disposing of it without burning down the house? thanks!

July 14, 2002, 08:55 PM	#4
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	I agree, the powder is probrably still fine. What is the main difference if the powder is stored in the plastic hopper, or the plastic jar? The funnest way to dispose of it, however is to simply dump it into a pile and light it,(from a distance) you can get some pretty impressive flames. I don't recommend this with black powder, however, doesn't give you much time to get out of the way. __________________ The Forty-Four spoke and it sent lead and smoke And seventeen inches of flame. -Marty Robbins JM

July 14, 2002, 09:21 PM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Hell, I've had the hopper of my Lee loader full for well over a year before. I just verified my powder settings, and started loading. No problems at all. __________________ "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 14, 2002, 09:56 PM	#6
Chuck Dye Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2002 Location: Oregon-The wet side. Posts: 949	If there is ABSOLUTELY no question of what powder it is and no obvious changes such as a new odor, clumping, breakdown (fines-dust) I think I might load a few starting loads and try them. ANY questionable qualities and I would feed the lawn or torch it. An e-mail or phone call to the manufacturer is a good move, also. __________________ Gee, I'd love to see your data!

July 15, 2002, 05:50 PM	#8
Larry Ashcraft Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2001 Location: Pueblo, CO, Home of Heroes Posts: 251	We moved about 8 years ago and I stored my powder in a damp basement. When I started reloading again 2 years ago I worried about my old kegs of powder but I had too much to throw away. Talked to a local gunsmith who said that as long as the powder is not clumped and has a "good strong chemical smell" it should be good. So far he has been right. One keg of 4227 was in a steel gallon can. When pouring or metering it gives off a puff of rust in the air. Naturally I was worried about that but I had 8 lbs. of it so I loaded up some starting loads and they work fine. __________________ Larry Ashcraft, formerly TrophyShop

July 14, 2002, 07:29 PM	#2
at2000 Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2000 Posts: 133	I don't have any experience determining if powder has gone bad. However, I once had to dispose of some powder in preparation for moving. I disposed of it by scattering it on the lawn. I believe this was one disposal method recommended by one or more of my reloading manuals. You should check a good reloading manual.

July 14, 2002, 07:35 PM	#3
mec Junior member Join Date: December 6, 2001 Posts: 1,536	It is a recommended expensive fertilizer. If the powder looks good and doesn't present a sharp odor, it is probably still good.

July 15, 2002, 05:01 AM	#7
LAH Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2002 Location: In The Hardwoods Posts: 1,188	I'll go with HucK on this one.

July 15, 2002, 06:09 PM	#9
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	Dumb, Dumb Mistake????? That was just an oversight "Dumb Mistake" would be charging a case with 40 grams of powder when the recipe called for 40 grains

July 15, 2002, 08:55 PM	#10
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	If you decide to get rid of it you can pour it down a sink drain with running water if you don't want to throw it on the lawn. I'd try loading it. __________________ Guns cause crime like spoons cause Rosie O'Donnell to be fat! I hunt, therefore I am.

July 15, 2002, 09:30 PM	#11
CheapSeats Member Join Date: July 3, 2002 Location: USA - The Land of Gun-Grabbers. Posts: 65	Try loading a few rounds and see how they shoot. Powder doesn't go bad real easily. As long as it was in a closed container and didn't get polluted with something it is probably fine. Of course if it smells significantly different than it should then you might want to just use it for fertilizer. Spread it over your lawn and water it. __________________ CheapSeats I may not agree with this person in entirety, particularly in the political party realm. But I have seen a lot of truth on these pages regarding the 2nd Ammendment: http://www.stentorian.com/2ndamend/ The 2nd Ammendment of the U.S. Constitution is to keep the government in line...not the citizenry. Who ever came to the dangerous conclusion that the government(s) had the right to interpret it FOR us? Ever heard of the wolf guarding the henhouse? I know what! (ludicrous thought) Let's allow the wolf to determine for us how many chickens is normal to "lose" each night. I am sure that the wolf will help us to save our chickens.

July 16, 2002, 09:22 AM	#12
ZeusOne Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: The hills of Western MD Posts: 237	As a rule, we reloaders don't like waste, but there's not that much powder in a Lee hopper. So given all the variables, feed the lawn and walk away to load another day.

July 16, 2002, 09:22 PM	#13
Blarneystone Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2001 Posts: 152	Thanks for the responses. I guess I'll give it a try. I'm pretty nervous about getting my stuff right.