What was your biggest powder spill?

[Snyd]

We've all done it right? Or am I the only one??

I've been pretty fortunate, I've never spilled more than maybe 1/4 of a powder measure or so. It's a result of a "duh" moment and the next thing you know powder is headed where it ought not be! The resulting reaction is an "OH MY GOD NOOOO!!!!!!" type of gasp. It's worse than spilling gasoline these days. I'd swear it's like seeing Gold Dust getting blown away in the wind! Maybe worse!

So how much Gold Dust have you lost at one time??

[Alaskan454]

I guess I've been really lucky, the worst was maybe 100 grains from my powder dispenser when I didn't notice the drain pipe was open a tiny bit. Even that much made me sad!

[Fowler]

A buddy once was changing out his Dillon and dumped half a powder hopper of a fast handgun powder back into a 3/4 full 8lb jug of H4895! He realized what happened and dumped the entire jug out into his garden as fertilizer.

He used to give me crap because I always leave the can the powder was poured out of right in front of my reloader that I am using that powder in and it made for a cluttered reloading bench he thought! Helps keep me inline I figure but I also never leave powder in my powder measures except for my Dillon and then I keep the container right next to it and a sticky note of the charge and powder on the barrel of the hopper itself. Knock on wood but my systme works for me

[Alaskan454]

I started leaving a note card with the powder type in big sharpie inside the container if it might be a while before using it next. Some powders look very similar and could easily blow up a handgun when interchanged. I'm all about a cluttered loading bench if it keeps things safe!

[Snyd]

I too only have the powder I'm using on the bench. Otherwise it's up on the top shelf or tucked away in back stock.

[webley455]

I had 50 rounds of 45 Colt all powder charged and ready for the bullets. Then I dropped the loading block.

[wdr2]

I did virtually the same thing! I had 2 cans open, dumped 1/2 lb of HS6 into a newly full can of 4350. I noticed my mistake when the 4350 overflowed. Beginning that day, only one can of powder on any loading bench.

Bill

Dec 15, 2015 14:31:00 GMT -5 Fowler said:

A buddy once was changing out his Dillon and dumped half a powder hopper of a fast handgun powder back into a 3/4 full 8lb jug of H4895!

[foxtrapper]

A Dillon powder hopper of 231 into a four pound jug of 296... Still have the jug covered in duct tape with marking of don't use . Sits on a shelf to remind me.

[BigBore44]

I keep only the jug im using out on the bench, and a note on the hopper. I usually never leave powder in the hopper overnight anyhow.

I've dumped little bit here and there, mostly when I forget to prime a rifle case before charging..

BigBore44

[Paden]

Thankfully, the worst spill I've had has been due to double charging a case incapable of accepting a double charge. (Knocking on wood as I type).

Kind of surprised by the reports of mixing powder. Early on I read somewhere that two powders should never be on the bench at the same time and took that to heart. Assumed it was universally accepted as an inviolable rule.

[contender]

My spills in over 35 years have been very small. I have always only kept one powder at a time on my bench, and I never leave powder in a hopper after I finish loading. Never sure about the moisture, humidity, or other things that could possibly affect the powder's performance.

[Markbo]

Dec 15, 2015 16:09:07 GMT -5 webley455 said:

I had 50 rounds of 45 Colt all powder charged and ready for the bullets. Then I dropped the loading block.

That was mine too. Ill bet there wasnt 4 or 5 cases worth spilled powder but i had no confidence in eyeballing which ones "might" be short and either causing a real problem or just 50 inaccurate rounds due to load inconsistency so I just poured em all out and started over.

[paul105]

I've dumped an entire powder hopper (1 lb or close) a couple of times in 30 plus years of loading with my 550. Forgot to tighten the screws on the bracket that holds the powder measure assy on the powder die. First round in the powder die station and wala, powder measure jumps off the press.

Haven't done it in recent memory, so I'm probably due.

Learned early on to leave only one powder can on the bench, and leave a note inside the powder measure with powder/charge and then confirm on my scale before next loading session.

Paul

[ericp]

Tripped over the cat (which let inside by the Lady without my knowledge) with an open 8 pounder of Unique, figure I lost about 3/4 pound. I was not a happy camper.

Eric

[chsparkman]

Last year I was happily loading along with my Hornady LnL when the plastic hopper separated from the powder measure, dumping a half-full hopper of 2400 all over the bench and the floor. I was able to recover about 40%. I immediately ordered a new hopper which fits much more snugly.