Originally Posted by
GoodOlBoy
I use Lee Powder Measure Kit (Dippers) and I handle powder differently. As has been said only ONE powder is on the bench at a time PERIOD, but I DO use a cut down powder container to house the powder I am dipping from while loading. When I am done loading the remaining powder goes back in it's original container (which is still on the bench) and get's locked back in the cabinet. I never mix powders, and I even go so far as never mixing lot numbers. When I am done loading my cut down powder container (an old Trail Boss Powder container) gets put in the dishwasher and run through before it is reused. I don't want to risk even the possibility of cross powder contamination in ANY amounts. That all being said. If I have to interrupt my loading for a phone call or other issue it all get's returned to the original container immediately if possible. If not and I have had to leave the room for any amount of time, AND there is anybody else in the area the powder get's dumped if I can't identify it. IE Trail Boss is easy to identify from any other powder. But I couldn't tell you the difference in Unique, HP-38, etc just by looking at the open powder without a label on it. I once had a buddy stay over for the weekend for some shooting practice and I had to leave my workroom to answer the front door. When I returned I found him staring into a second powder container via flashlight while the first was still on my bench (the lid was off the first which it hadn't been when I left). He assured me he hadn't mixed anything up, but I taped both containers closed with masking tape labeled "unknown do not use" until I could dispose of them. He was a little offended but I told him I wasn't about to risk a problem over a couple of partial cans of powder. Then I closed up my work room and called it a day. Everybody has their own methods for reloading, and so long as safety measures are followed I can't fault anybody for doing something different than I do it, unless it is just blatantly hazardous (more on that below). IE I consider it insane that some re-loaders by bulk surplus powder and "play with it" until they get a good load. If I don't know exactly what it is I won't use it. Several years ago a nice lady gave me some reloading components her late husband had had. Of the seven containers of powder three were unopened with a good seal. The other four I taped shut and labeled "unknown do not use" until I could (again) properly dispose of them. The man was the best re-loader I have ever known, but I didn't know the history of those old cans so I didn't use them. Overzealous? Maybe. But so far *knock on wood* I have never hurt myself or anybody else, and good Lord willing I won't ever do so.
On the flip side I have been on the range with people who eyeballed a powder they weren't certain of, or who thought you could just scoop a case full of any old powder and load it up because they were "experts" and had done it that way for "years". I have had to call an ambulance TWICE because somebody who I didn't know and had never met detonated a gun with this kind of stupidity, and I can't tell you the number of people I have met who have ruined a good gun but luckily didn't get hurt doing the same kind of thing OR were using somebody else's reloads they got or bought for "cheap" at a garage sale or auction. The very first time this ever happened to me I was at a range when a new "cowboy" shooter walked up to the open bench firing line with a brand new 45 longcolt clone of unknown origin. He hung his target on the 15 yard line during the cease fire, and observed safe handling procedures during the same. When "range is hot" was called he put on his muffs, loaded five rounds in the pistol, cocked the hammer and promptly detonated the pistol not three feet from my left side. The top chamber on the cylinder, and the top strap for the gun were never found, and there were holes in the tin roof over his head (not to mention several nice little cuts on his forehead and my left jaw). On his way to the range that morning he had stopped off at his brother-in-laws house and snagged a box of 45 longcolts loaded with 300 grain XTP Mag rounds loaded hot for handgun hunting in his brother-in-laws ruger blackhawk. The next week they shut the range down and built dividers between the benches. I got a free pass to the range when honestly what I needed was a new pair of shorts.....
The whole point is that I agree it is kinda crazy that he didn't believe you could return a known powder back to it's original container safely, and unfortunately there are those who have the opposite problem and don't see and issue with mixing and matching whatever. You can never be certain if a "expert" or "guru" is actually as stupid as they appear, or if they are just really really pitiful at explaining their process, but one thing is for certain. When you run across one like that the best thing to do is smile, nod, and walk the heck away. I'm glad that you are taking the time to show the other guy a good safe method of reloading, just goes to show what good quality people this board has.
My 3 cents, but then again I am a rank amateur and I know it.
GoodOlBoy
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