black powder in a plastic powder measure

[Gabriel Law]

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black powder in a plastic powder measure
« on: Today at 06:51:10 pm »
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Does anyone have any reliable information about an incident where black powder blew up in a plastic powder measure?

I didn't think so.

Black Powder is transported all around the globe in plastic cans.  There is documentation that static electricity cannot ignite black powder.
So I conducted a little experiment and used myself and my equipment as the guinea pig...I loaded 250 rounds of 44-40 ammo with 3Fg GOEX black powder - without incident.

The RH in my shop is 7.5%...temperature 65 F.  The press is a Dillon 650.

This is an anecdote, not a recommendation.  One must take responsibility for their own actions.

[Abilene]

There was an instance of a blowup in a Rockchucker powder measure, but that was pyrodex.  And Hodgdon does say it is safe to do so.  The person involved thinks it could have been a grain shearing rather than static.  I personally have loaded BP in a Lee Auto-Disk measure, but I would never do it with humidity that low!

And BTW, that "documentation" you refer to was a very unscientific experiment that does not simulate real world static discharge waveforms and conditions.  And a former member here (can't recall her alias at the moment but it was a variation of Calamity Jane) was able to effect an ignition with a similar experiment.

Nevertheless, I agree that the chances of an accident are likely very slim if for no other reason than many people have done it without problems.

[Blackpowder Burn]

I was given advice by a long time BP shooter when I first started down the dark path.........cut a strip of clothes dryer anti-static sheet and clip to the inside of a plastic powder measure to prevent any chance of static discharge.  He'd been doing that for several coon's ages.................

[Dick Dastardly]

1.  Don't smoke when reloading.

2.  No heat sources in the reloading area.

3.  Handle primers safely.  Primers are designed to ignite powder.

4.  Can't think of any more off hand.

DD-MDA

[Coffinmaker]

I have personally loaded thousands of rounds with BP and Subs in my Dillon Powder Measures.  I have had no "SURPRISES."  I can only relate my experience and the anecdotal experience(s) of my shooting brethren.  We ALL run Dillon progressive machines.  NONE of
us has had a "SURPRISE."  Your Milage May Vary

I can only reiterate what the Esteemed Dirty Dick Dastardly said. 

Coffinmaker

[fourfingersofdeath]

A few years ago wheh first considering BP I made it a point to ask a lot of the top BP shooters how they went about reloading their 44/40s and 45s. They were pretty cagey, but a senior member from interstate told me that he reloaded for the whole team (his, his wife's, son's, daughter in law and two other couples, all top flight shooters, wellllllllllllllll his wife is not quite as fast, but she is the one everyone notices, lol). He loads all on a Dillon 650 and does 1000 odd at a time and doesn't worry about airspace. They have never had a problem over 10 years or more of shooting Black Powder only loads. he said that the only time he loads a full case was when he reloads 38Specials for a gamer when the guy is entered in a Black Powder only shoot.

I'm not saying it is the way to go, but apparently it works.

[David Battersby]

1.  Don't smoke when reloading.   ( you'll get ashes in your beer ) 

  I have read stories of black powder blowup during reloading. I don't believe I have every heard of a smokeless blowup during reloading.  Smokeless is a propellant and has deterrent coatings and Holy Black is an easier to ignite explosive. With this in mind a precaution or two isn't out of the question. I really like my Lee Turret press with the Pro Auto Disk powder measure, but the hopper is plastic. Well.....with scrap copper pipes of various sizes plus fittings and a torch at the ready it now sports a "Copper Hopper".  It was easy to make, works great and I have one less thing on my mind in this crazy world.

[rickk]

Many powders are coated with graphite to make them flow easier. Most brands of Black Powder have graphite added to them as well.

After a while, the inside of powder measures get sort of a grey color to them. That is the graphite coating the inside of the hopper. Graphite is electrically conductive and tends to dissipate static electricity.

So, I guess, if you are going to use a plastic powder measure for BP,it might be safer to use an older, somewhat dirty one rather than a clean new one.

[Dick Dastardly]

Go stand outside in an electric storm.  Hold up a metal umbrella.  You're far more likely to get burnt than you will from static electricity igniting your powder hopper.

DD-MDA

[Coffinmaker]

Yea, just ask Lee Trevino.  lightning does in fact strike twice.  Zaperoonies.

I have never met anyone who has personally witnessed nor experienced a BP detonation in a powder measure.  I have listened to some
who heard it from Seth, who got it from stan who swears it's the sweet fact cause he heard from his second cousin Ollie who ...............
add nausieum.

There is supposedly some expert (ex = a has been, spert = drip under pressure) testimonials alluding to the potential hazards of running
BP or Subs through a Plastic hopper.  Well, after all, Smokeless is just a BP Substitute that doesn't make lots of smoke, yes?? 

Now, I don't want to be the first to provide imperical proof.  Lets just say, the hazards of a three foot lighting rod in an electrical storm are
greater than a powder measure detonation.  Oh, wait, didn't DDD just say that??

Coffinmaker

[Mean Bob Mean]

1.  Don't smoke when reloading.

2.  No heat sources in the reloading area.

3.  Handle primers safely.  Primers are designed to ignite powder.

4.  Can't think of any more off hand.

DD-MDA

One more:

Fill it with black, nothing else.