humidity versus reloading - The Firearms Forum

obiewan57 · 04-28-2009, 10:06 PM

If I store my components in a controlled air environment then use them to load rifle ammo in a shed where humidity might be high at time of reloading, then store the loaded ammo back in a controlled place, will I have any problems.

In other words, at time of reloading, if humidity is high, does it cause any problems?

gdmoody · 04-29-2009, 01:10 AM

NO, you should not have any problems with that. I do the exact same thing, only I leave some powder in my Dillon powder measures in the shed all the time. I do have a packet of silica gel in the powder measure, though.

LDBennett · 04-29-2009, 07:24 AM

gdmoody:

Don't you find that when powder is left in the powder measure that the plastic reservoir discolors badly? How do you know what powder was left in the powder measure? Many look alike when in the measure.

The safe way to handle powder is to keep it stored in the canister it came in. Only have one powder canister on the bench at one time. And when the reloading session is over put the powder back into its canister. If the session has to be carried over to another day, a reloader should put the powder back into the canister it came out of.

You can do whatever you please but a new reloader should be aware that safety is first and powder is easy to misidentify without it being in its canister. Others do as you do but it probably could lead to a problem for someone not as organized as you are. I think it better and safer to always put the powder back into the canister at the end of the day's reloading if the session is not yet complete. It only takes a minute or two more.

Safety first!

LDBennett

carver · 04-29-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBennett

gdmoody:

Don't you find that when powder is left in the powder measure that the plastic reservoir discolors badly? How do you know what powder was left in the powder measure? Many look alike when in the measure.

The safe way to handle powder is to keep it stored in the canister it came in. Only have one powder canister on the bench at one time. And when the reloading session is over put the powder back into its canister. If the session has to be carried over to another day, a reloader should put the powder back into the canister it came out of.

You can do whatever you please but a new reloader should be aware that safety is first and powder is easy to misidentify without it being in its canister. Others do as you do but it probably could lead to a problem for someone not as organized as you are. I think it better and safer to always put the powder back into the canister at the end of the day's reloading if the session is not yet complete. It only takes a minute or two more.

Safety first!

LDBennett

+1 I basically use only one powder, but to prevent any problems as to what powder I have in the powder measure, I put it all back in the can it came out of!

gdmoody · 04-29-2009, 11:24 AM

I haven't had the Dillon long enough to see any discoloration in the plastic. I do keep track of what powder is in the measure. Just a little note saying 5.5 grains of titegroup stuck to the measure lets me know what powder is in it and what charge it is set for. Just a tiny bit of common sense will tell you to mark your containers so that you will know, not guess or try to remember what you used last.

That being said, you are absolutely correct about the safety issues. He asked, I answered honestly.

And, if you say that the powder will discolor my $100 powder measures, then I will go out and put the powder back into the containers, Thanks for the info.

LDBennett · 04-29-2009, 11:33 AM

gdmoody:

I have two Dillon powder measure plastic reservoirs. Each has been used for about ten years (first one for ten years then the other for ten years). Both have never been used to store powder, and were emptied every day during a reloading session that lasted more than one day. Both are discolored (black haze) but not so much that you can't see the powder level, but definitely not anywhere close to clear. Leave the powder in there for days and days and I think it will only get worse quicker.

Then as said earlier there is the safety issue.

LDBennett

04-28-2009, 10:06 PM	#1
obiewan57 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	humidity versus reloading If I store my components in a controlled air environment then use them to load rifle ammo in a shed where humidity might be high at time of reloading, then store the loaded ammo back in a controlled place, will I have any problems. In other words, at time of reloading, if humidity is high, does it cause any problems? -->

04-29-2009, 01:10 AM	#2
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,354	Re: humidity versus reloading NO, you should not have any problems with that. I do the exact same thing, only I leave some powder in my Dillon powder measures in the shed all the time. I do have a packet of silica gel in the powder measure, though. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

04-29-2009, 07:24 AM	#3
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,718	Re: humidity versus reloading gdmoody: Don't you find that when powder is left in the powder measure that the plastic reservoir discolors badly? How do you know what powder was left in the powder measure? Many look alike when in the measure. The safe way to handle powder is to keep it stored in the canister it came in. Only have one powder canister on the bench at one time. And when the reloading session is over put the powder back into its canister. If the session has to be carried over to another day, a reloader should put the powder back into the canister it came out of. You can do whatever you please but a new reloader should be aware that safety is first and powder is easy to misidentify without it being in its canister. Others do as you do but it probably could lead to a problem for someone not as organized as you are. I think it better and safer to always put the powder back into the canister at the end of the day's reloading if the session is not yet complete. It only takes a minute or two more. Safety first! LDBennett

04-29-2009, 11:24 AM	#5
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,354	Re: humidity versus reloading I haven't had the Dillon long enough to see any discoloration in the plastic. I do keep track of what powder is in the measure. Just a little note saying 5.5 grains of titegroup stuck to the measure lets me know what powder is in it and what charge it is set for. Just a tiny bit of common sense will tell you to mark your containers so that you will know, not guess or try to remember what you used last. That being said, you are absolutely correct about the safety issues. He asked, I answered honestly. And, if you say that the powder will discolor my $100 powder measures, then I will go out and put the powder back into the containers, Thanks for the info. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

04-29-2009, 11:33 AM	#6
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,718	Re: humidity versus reloading gdmoody: I have two Dillon powder measure plastic reservoirs. Each has been used for about ten years (first one for ten years then the other for ten years). Both have never been used to store powder, and were emptied every day during a reloading session that lasted more than one day. Both are discolored (black haze) but not so much that you can't see the powder level, but definitely not anywhere close to clear. Leave the powder in there for days and days and I think it will only get worse quicker. Then as said earlier there is the safety issue. LDBennett